Atherosclerosis Information You Need
| Basics |
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Arterial Plaque results in a sudden interruption of blood flow to an organ or body part when a blood clot or atherosclerotic plaque moves in the blood stream from its point of origin to a new location, blocking an artery. These deposits or soft plaques are tenuously held in place by a thin, fibrous cover vulnerable to ruptures. They may narrow the artery, but more importantly may trigger massive clots when they rupture, possibly filling up the entire artery and causing life-threatening heart attacks.
Arterial Plaque may result in extremities, especially the legs and feet. In some cases it may involve the brain or heart, causing stroke or heart attack. The kidneys and intestines may also be affected. Indeed, it would not be excessive to say that heart attacks, most strokes, peripheral vascular problem, kidney-related high blood pressure and some types of kidney failure are all manifestations of a single problem, that is, plaque formation in the arteries. |
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| Symptoms |
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Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles: Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles is the primary symptom of artery blockage. It is typically experienced as chest Discomfort, which can be mild, moderate, or severe, but is often reported as a dull, heavy pressure that may resemble a crushing object on the chest. Discomfort often radiates to the neck, jaw, or left shoulder and arm. Less commonly, patients report mild burning chest discomfort, sharp chest Discomfort, or Discomfort that radiates to the right arm or back. Sometimes a patient experiences shortness of breath, fatigue, or palpitations instead of Discomfort.
Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles can be classified as:
Stable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles: Stable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles can be extremely Discomfortful, but its occurrence is predictable; it is usually triggered by exertion or stress and relieved by rest. Stable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles responds well to medical Favorable Effects. Any event that increases oxygen demand can cause Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles, including exercise, cold weather, emotional tension, and even large meals. Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles attacks can occur at any time during the day, but a high proportion seems to take place between the hours of 6:00 AM and noon.
Unstable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles. Unstable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles is a much more serious situation and is often an intermediate stage between stable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles and a heart attack. . Medications are less effective in relieving Discomfort of unstable Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles
Prinzmetal's Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles. A third type of Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles, called variant or Prinzmetal's Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles, is caused by a spasm of a coronary artery. It almost always occurs when the patient is at rest. Irregular heartbeats are common, but the Discomfort is generally relieved immediately with Favorable Effects
Silent Ischemia. Some people with excessive arterial plaque do not experience Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles Discomfort, a condition known as silent ischemia, which some experts attribute to abnormal processing of heart Discomfort by the brain.
Necrosis: Necrosis refers to dead bones or small areas of tissue in the body. This is caused when not enough blood is supplied to the tissue.
Stroke: Stroke involves the loss of brain functions that occur when the blood supply to any part of the brain is interrupted by the blockage of arteries.
- A weak or absent pulse.
- Abnormal loss of normal skin or mucous membrane color which develops suddenly or gradually.
- Muscle or joint Discomfort followed by the complete loss of muscle function. This can be in a small area (localized) or widespread (generalized).
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| Prevention |
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To reduce the risk of arterial blockage by plaque, it is suggested to limit the intake of saturated fats (found in animal products) and trans-fatty acids (found in commercial baked goods and fast foods). Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich fiber and vitamins, may be beneficial. It is advised to stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and control diabetes in order to avoid the formation of arterial plaque. Do not consume caffeine and alcohol. Reduce your serum cholesterols levels if to high by eating a high fiber, low fat diet that avoids rich dairy foods, animal fats such as shortening high sugar foods and red meats. Take daily supplements of omega -3 oils, vitamins C and E, calcium citrate and magnesium. Try to get stress levels in your life under control. Stress causes adrenalin surges in the body, which can strain the heart. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that prolonged stress can raise cholesterols levels and contribute to the development of coronary heart problem (Arteriosclerosis). |
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| Causes |
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Foam cells are the chief element in plaque formation. They send chemical signals that attract other white cells to the lesion, where they may become new foam cells in turn by eating new fat deposited by low-density lipoprotein--the blood's cholesterol carrier. Foam cells may also release an enzyme that can eat holes in the artery wall, causing bleeding, which, in turn can cause heart-attack triggering clot formation. Infectious agents such as bacteria, high blood pressures and cigarette smoking may lead to the formation and rupture of plaque. An elevated level of cholesterol is also a major cause of arterial blockage. High blood pressure, or High blood pressure, has long been a proven cause of coronary artery problem. People who are sedentary are almost twice as likely to suffer artery blockage as compared to the people who exercise regularly.
Abnormally high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine are strongly linked to an increased risk of coronary artery problem and stroke. Homocysteine may harm the lining of the arteries and contribute to blood clotting. Research indicates that genetics are involved in the development of plaque in arteries.One important factor is apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which appears to affect cholesterol levels. Another genetic variant called apoE4 is particularly associated with heart problem and it is suggested that it may be a significant risk factor for the blockage of arteries in early middle age.
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| Diagnosis |
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Blood and Urine Tests. Blood and urine tests that indicate a risk of the presence of plaque in arteries include those for cholesterol, homocysteine, the protein albumin, and blood clotting factors, especially fibrinogen.
Electrocardiograms and Echocardiograms. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures and records the electrical activity of the heart during an Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles attack. Between 25% and 50% of people who suffer from Problem due to lack of blood supply to heart muscles or have silent ischemia, however, have normal ECG readings. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound images of the heart.
Extremity arteriography: The extremities arteriogram Enhances identify and locate occlusions (closure of the vessel). As the arteries are not normally seen in an x-ray, so a contrast material is injected into one or more arteries to make them visible. X-rays are then taken of the blood flow through the brain. The body tissues absorb some of the X-rays, while other X-rays will pass through. The denser tissues, such as a bone, appear on the film as white. Less dense tissues, such as muscles, appear as gray; and empty spaces on the X-rayed appear as black
Renal arteriography: This test is performed to examine the blood vessels of the kidneys, using a contrast material and X-rays. The test is done to evaluate the blood vessels in the kidney before surgery. The test may detect stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessel), blood clots, or aneurysm (a sac filled with blood caused by a widening of the vein or artery).
Doppler ultrasonography: This test examines the blood flow in the major arteries and veins in the arms and legs with the use of ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves that echo off the body. The Doppler ultrasonography uses audio means to hear the "swishing" noise of the blood flow.
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| Dietary Guidelines |
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Do not use alcohol, tobacco or caffeine. Eat a diet that is high in fiber, lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables. Use safflower and olive oil and supplement your own diet with essentially fatty acids found in primrose, flaxseed and black currant oil. Whole grains are highly recommended. Buckwheat Enhances to strengthen veins. Try to substantially increase your fiber content substantially. Avoid red meats, hydrogenated fats such as shortening and margarine, animal fats, white sugar products, rich dairy foods, eggs and empty calorie foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar and low in nutrients. Also avoid using salts. It can be hidden in MSG, baking soda, canned vegetables, diet soft drinks, meat tenderizers, softened water, certain foods with sugar substitutes and preserved foods. |
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| Home Care Suggestions |
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After receiving proper medical attention, the best thing you can do for yourself is to restructure your life styles and habits. While it may seem discouraging at first, thousands of people have successfully done it and have received a new lease on life. Regular exercise is quite favorable. Learn to relax and enjoy and enjoy your life. Open your mind to relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, yoga, meditation, etc. These can really Enhance to relax the entire body and counteract the bad effects of the stress. Join others in exercising. Walk the malls or buy a treadmill. |
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| Mind/Body Considerations |
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Any time we are dealing with cardiovascular problem, the mind/body connection must be addressed. Years of data tell us that if you are a person who internalizes stress, you may be at much higher risk for developing CHD. More over, if you are stressed out and smoke, your cardiovascular system can rapidly age and deteriorate before its time. Stress causes adrenal hormones that, when combined with nicotine and alcohol, dramatically raise cholesterol levels and predispose the human body to all kinds of problem. All of us need to pay attention to managing stress constructively rather than destructively. Those of us who fit the Type A personality profile need to be particularly aware of how we construe stress and what we do with it. |
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| Additional Information |
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Cholesterol Naturally is a dietary supplement that contains vitamin B9 (Folic acid) that
shows its favorable effects on heart health and cholesterol levels. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10 It also contains garlic that exhibits its favorable effects on heart
health, blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels of the body. 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12,
13 Cholestame is a food supplement that contains Vitamin B5 which shows its
beneficial effects on heart health and blood cholesterol level of the body. 2, 3, 8, 9, 14
Cholesterol Blend SP-31 is a dietary supplement that contains psyllium which exhibits its
beneficial effects on cholesterol levels of the blood. 2, 4 |
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| Disclaimer |
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. |
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