Arteriosclerosis is a disease affecting the arterial human blood vessel. Arteriosclerosis may be one of the most easily preventable diseases of the modern civilization in the 40 to 70 age group. Coronary Arteriosclerosis is the blockage and narrowing of the blood vessels and is commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries. It is characterized by the thickening and hardening of the arteries. This loss of elastically and narrowing of the arteries can lead to high blood pressure and if left untreated, increases the chance of a stroke.
Arteriosclerosis is commonly referred to as a "hardening" or "furring" of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis (hardening of small arteries, the arterioles) is the result of collagen deposition, but also muscle wall thickening and deposition of protein ("hyaline").
Arteriosclerosis is characterized by the constant accumulation fatty substances called plaques on the arterial walls. These complications are chronic, slowly progressing and cumulative. This plaque buildup is usually found in most major arteries of the human body.
The blockage mainly consists of plaques or fatty deposits containing large quantities of cholesterol and triglycerides. Triglycerides are simply another form of fat circulating in the blood instead of stored someplace. Unlike cholesterol, triglycerides are made in the body principally from carbohydrates eaten.
Evidence has increased that people with diabetes, despite certainly not having clinically detectable Arteriosclerosis disease, have more severe debility from Arteriosclerosis events over time than even non-diabetics.
Arteriosclerosis typically begins in early adolescence but is rarely diagnosed until late in life usually due to a stroke or heart attack. Autopsies of healthy young men who died during the Korean and Vietnam Wars showed evidence of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the progression of arteriosclerosis and prevent a medical emergency.
According to United States data for the year 2004, for about 65% of men and 47% of women, the first symptom of Arteriosclerosis disease is heart attack or sudden cardiac death (death within one hour of onset of the symptom) or the obstruction of arteries supplying the brain result in a stroke.
These events are life-changing, and often result in irreversible loss of function because lost heart muscle and brain cells do not grow back to any significant extent, typically less than 2%.
Research has shown that lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood will lower the chance of coronary arteriosclerosis. Non-pharmaceutical means are usually the first method of treatment, such as cessation of smoking and regular exercise.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Arteriosclerosis such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, Oat Bran, Sytrinol, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Policosanol and Antioxidants.
Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.
Vitamin E improves circulation and promotes normal blood clotting. Vitamin E is also known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.
Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides.
Sytrinol are known to be useful in helping maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body by reducing triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.
Pantothenic Acid is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it.
Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning.
Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.
Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.
Patients at risk for arteriosclerosis-related diseases are increasingly being treated prophylactically with low-dose aspirin.
Lifestyle changes can also lower the risk of medical emergencies do to arteriosclerosis. Quit smoking, eat healthy foods, weight loss and get regular exercise. This treatment is often problematic for many to achieve and continue for the long term.
This report is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
Author Resource:-
David Cowley has created numerous articles on heart disease. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to heart disease and how to treat them. Visit http://www.heart-team.com
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