| e_content"> | | | | physical activity, called angina pectoris. |
| By atherosclerosis the inside of the arteries are | | | | -Feeling of not getting enough air, or breathing |
| thickened, hardened and stiffened, causing the space | | | | problems. |
| for blood flow to be narrowed or closed. This will | | | | Atherosclerosis can cause blood clots that close the |
| decrease the oxygen supply to local or distant tissues. | | | | blood flow. There are several ways this can occur: |
| The primary symptom of this is pain, poor organ | | | | -The atherosclerotic plaque can rupture, making a sore |
| function and bad general condition. The further | | | | in the inner wall of the vessel. At such a sore blood |
| consequences are tissue damage, sometimes acute | | | | can coagulate, making a blood clot. |
| damage by stop of blood flow caused by a sudden | | | | -The atherosclerotic plaque itself can grow to close a |
| blood clot formed in the narrowed areas. | | | | blood vessel. |
| | | | -Blood coagulated at an affected area can tear loose, |
| THE MECHANISMS AND CAUSES OF | | | | float with the blood stream to another place and prop |
| ATHEROSCLEROSIS | | | | a blood vessel at the new place. |
| The inner walls of the arteries consist of an innermost | | | | -A portion of the plaque itself can tear itself loose and |
| layer of endothelial cells (surface cells) and under | | | | clog another blood vessel. |
| these a layer of smooth muscle cells. The changes by | | | | When the heart is stricken by a blood clot, heart tissue |
| atherosclerosis take place under the endothelial cells | | | | is suddenly destroyed, a condition called heart |
| and in this muscle layer. The changes consist of: A | | | | infarction, causing sudden heart failure or death. |
| certain degree of cell proliferation or tumour, gathering | | | | When a blood clot strikes the brain, brain tissue is |
| of cholesterol and fat. Deposition of calcium salts. | | | | destroyed or impaired, causing paralysis, decreased |
| Deposition of blood elements like fibrin. | | | | consciousness, coma or other sudden functional |
| The deposits are called atherosclerotic plaque or | | | | impairments. |
| atheroma. Atherosclerosis is one of several types of | | | | |
| artery thickening and hardening. A common name for | | | | THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF |
| thickening and hardening of arteries is "arteriosclerosis". | | | | ATHEROSCLEROSIS |
| Often atherosclerosis is also just called arteriosclerosis. | | | | Atherosclerosis can be prevented and to some |
| The development of atherosclerosis probably begins | | | | extend be cured by these measures, of which most |
| by a damage in the endothelium. This damage causes | | | | are lifestyle adjustments: |
| cholesterol and fat to penetrate into the vessel walls | | | | -Eating just a little or moderate amount of fat. |
| and deposit there. This also induces cells to proliferate. | | | | -Eating just a moderate amount of sugar. |
| Later also calcium salts are deposited. | | | | -The fat eaten should be a blending of different types |
| Factors that cause endothelial damage and thus | | | | of unsaturated fat from sources like: Olive oil, rape oil, |
| atherosclerosis are: | | | | sunflower oil, soy oil, walnut oil and fish. Then you will |
| -High content of cholesterol in the blood. | | | | get enough of mono-unsaturated fat, |
| -High content of blood fat and especially saturated fat. | | | | omega-3-unsaturated fat, and |
| -Inflammation in the blood vessels. A sign of such | | | | omega-6-poly-unsaturated fat, but not too much of |
| inflammation is the presence of a substance called | | | | any of them. |
| c-reactive protein. | | | | -Eating much fish and just a little red meat. |
| -High amount of oxidation agents in the blood. | | | | -Eating a good amount of fruit and vegetables each |
| -High blood pressure. | | | | day. |
| -High content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the | | | | -Supply of enough vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. |
| blood serum, and low content of high density lipoprotein | | | | -Only consuming moderate amount of salt. |
| (HDL) in the blood. Lipoprotein is a combination of a | | | | -Stop smoking. |
| protein molecule and fat or cholesterol. Lipoproteins | | | | -Getting high blood pressure treated if lifestyle |
| carry cholesterol or fat from place to place. | | | | measures do not bring blood pressure down. |
| -Diabetes. | | | | -Daily exercise fitted for one's own condition. |
| -High age. | | | | -Eliminate stress in the daily life and at the job. |
| -Smoking. | | | | -Stressing down and getting enough rest. |
| -Men have a somewhat higher chance of getting this | | | | By high cholesterol levels that do not react properly to |
| condition than women. | | | | lifestyle measures, cholesterol lowering medication can |
| -High content of the amino acid homocystein in the | | | | be used, such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. |
| blood serum. | | | | By serious local narrowing of an artery, surgery to |
| Many of these factors are ultimately caused by a bad | | | | clean out or widen the artery is sometimes performed. |
| diet and lack of daily exercise. | | | | Sometimes the artery is replaced by a graft taken |
| | | | from another body part or by an artificial vessel. When |
| THE SYMPTOMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF | | | | this is done in the heart, it is denoted as bypass |
| ATHEROSCLEROSIS | | | | surgery. |
| Since atherosclerosis can affect all body parts, the | | | | Alternative treatment to clean out the arteries is an |
| symptoms will vary. However, general symptoms from | | | | option. There is for example a treatment consisting of |
| the affected body parts are: | | | | using the substance EDTA to carry constituents of |
| -Decreased performance, easy to tire out. | | | | plaque away from the arteries. The molecules of this |
| -Pain by physical activity, so called anoxic pain. | | | | substance have the ability to grip around other |
| -By severe impairment of blood flow, tissue damage | | | | molecules, for example cholesterol molecules, and |
| or sores can occur. | | | | carry them away. There is however a controversy |
| When the heart is affected, the symptoms will be: | | | | about the effectiveness of this treatment, called |
| -General bad condition. | | | | chelating therapy. |
| -Anoxic pain from the heart and surroundings by | | | | |