Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Lisa H. Sprague MSS, PTA, LMT
Meet the GlycoCheck! For many years, the medical field has only analyzed a portion of the vascular system – the veins, arteries, and heart. However, those comprise only 1% of the surface area of all the vessels in your body, with the microvascular system making up the other 99%.
Until recently, those microvessels weren’t given much attention in the medical field. Due to their tiny size, they couldn’t be measured, couldn’t be operated on, and couldn’t be examined and assessed. There has been no instrumentation small enough to evaluate and mitigate any issue until now!
The GlycoCheck is an FDA-registered, Class 1 medical device that allows the function of the microvascular system to be measured and analyzed, monitoring the status of the endothelial glycocalyx lining inside the microvessels. The device has been heavily researched around the globe, and there is no other device available – it is a truly one-of-a-kind, life-changing system. Once only used in hospitals and universities, GlycoCheck is now available for practitioners!
What Is the Glycocalyx?
Have you ever heard of the glycocalyx? It comes as no surprise if your answer is “sort of”—or even a resounding “no.” But it’s critical to understand what it is, since it happens to be the most important part of our cardiovascular system and the literal foundation of our overall health. You may look and even feel healthy on the outside, but inside your microvascular system, a completely different situation could be developing.
Put simply, the glycocalyx is the Teflon-like lining of all our blood vessels. It is made up of a micro-thin gel and is the largest organ in the body that protects the inside walls of our entire circulatory system. Our blood vessels are not just hollow tubes that our blood flows through – there’s so much more going on inside.
The integrity of the glycocalyx is extremely important. We have over 60,000 miles of microvessels that comprise 99% of our vascular system. At the “sweet spot” of nutrient-, oxygen-, and waste-product exchange to and from our tissues and organs lies the tiniest microvessels, just 4–6 microns thick. If the glycocalyx is compromised and the single-cell thick vessel wall is exposed, it leaves the vessel vulnerable to damage. A compromised/damaged glycocalyx can become leaky and tissues and organs can begin to starve due to lack of nutrients and oxygen, leading to health decline.
Early warning signs of declining health due to a damaged glycocalyx are fatigue, cold hands and feet, thinning hair, memory loss, blood sugar imbalances, blood pressure inconsistencies, lack of focus, and slow wound healing. Scientific research tells us that endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction can progress to several diseases and conditions.
The Role and Health of the Glycocalyx: Many researchers consider the endothelial glycocalyx as a first line of defense against vascular diseases. You cannot have healthy vascular walls without a healthy glycocalyx. Highlights of the importance of your glycocalyx are: 1. Maximizes delivery of nutrients and oxygen to your tissues and organs 2. Regulates healthy blood flow 3. Protects your entire vascular system from damage.
Other functions of the glycocalyx include the regulation of vascular permeability, fluid balance, and the synthesis of nitric oxide in response to the blood flow. The surface of the glycocalyx helps maintain endothelial function.
How Does GlycoCheck Work?
A video microscope camera is placed under the tongue showing live movement of red blood cells as they travel through your microvessels. In a matter of minutes, GlycoCheck measures and analyzes 100,000 vessels, with 1,000 measurements calculated per vessel. It is a non-invasive test that takes approximately 10-20 minutes that produces a Microvascular Health Score that reveals the health of the microvessels by measuring several key parameters of the microvascular system:
• Capillary Density
• Capillary Blood Volume Recruitment Capacity
• Capillary Blood Volume Dynamic
• Perfused Boundary Region Flow Corrected
• Microvascular Health Score (MVHS):
Your Microvascular Health Score is the overall score based on capillary density, recruitment capacity, and glycocalyx health. A higher score means better microvascular health.
A healthy microvascular system is essential for maximizing your health potential. Clearly, the health of the epithelial glycocalyx has a significant impact on all aspects of our overall health. A plan to maintain or improve your health – regardless of your age – should involve optimizing the function of your endothelial glycocalyx.
Think of all the nutritious food and beneficial supplements you take to bolster your health. Now you can find out how well you are actually delivering those nutrients. Lastly have you ever wondered why someone with no cardiovascular history has a heart attack or even dies of a massive heart attack? I wonder about the health of their microvascular system. Knowledge is power and now we can know and be proactive.
I am proud to be one of the few testing sites in the United States to offer you GlycoCheck. Testing is provided in my office or on-site for HealthCare professionals. Discover the most comprehensive analysis of your microvascular system and how to improve your glycocalyx and optimize blood flow for a healthier you!
Lisa H. Sprague MSS, PTA, LMT
Lisa H. Sprague MSS, PTA, LMT is a licensed healthcare practitioner with over 35 years of experience and owner of MV Solutions and Science & Art of Healing. She holds AS, BS, and MSS degrees and is currently pursuing her PhD. Her extensive experience, skill and training have allowed her to become a unique specialist to benefit her clients.
She has been in private practice in Naples, FL since 1999 and became a certified GlycoCheck tester and trainer in 2022. She specializes in GlycoCheck microvascular testing and therapies that optimize healing from the cellular level. Lisa utilizes new approaches to optimize your health and well-being from the cellular level. Powering your potential from the cellular level and frequency based therapies are core to her private practices.
You can connect with Lisa at 239-821-1223 or Lisa@MVsolutions.pro.
Please go to www.microvasculartesting.com & www.ScienceandArtofHealing.com for more information.
MV Soluitions
5633 Strand Blvd., Suite 311, Naples,FL 34110
239-821-1223
www.microvasculartesting.com
