Life is becoming so busy these days that amidst our work schedules and personal commitments, we hardly have time to take care of ourselves. People are quite literally dependant on fast food for their daily nutrition. This fast food has given rise to obesity. The continual surge in obesity is making more and more people vulnerable to health problems associated with having clogged arteries.
What are Clogged Arteries?
Arteries are like highways in your body. They are blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood to the heart and throughout the body. They go to your brain as well as to the tips of your toes. Clogged arteries occur when a substance called plaque gets build-up on the inner walls of the arteries. When this plaque narrows or clogs your arteries, it makes it harder for your blood to get to all parts of your body. Common locations for clogged arteries are the heart, the brain, the kidneys, the pelvis, arms and legs, and even the abdomen.
What Causes Arterial Plaque?
Artery plaque is made up of several substances that circulate in your blood, including fat, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin (a material involved in blood clotting). Plaque build-up starts when certain factors (such as high blood pressure, smoking, high amounts of certain fats, cholesterol and sugar in the blood) damage the inner layers of the arteries. To repair the damage, your body starts a healing process by releasing certain compounds. This healing causes plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged. As more damage occurs and more plaque builds up, it causes the artery walls to lose elasticity and harden, a condition called atherosclerosis.
The buildup of plaque often starts during the childhood or teenage years. Then clogged arteries develop in middle age or later.
What the Symptoms of Clogged Arteries?
Symtoms and the medical condition due to clogged arteries depends upon where arterial plaque accumulates. Some of the medical conditions include:
- Coronary artery disease: Coronary artery disease results when plaque accumulates in the arteries carrying blood to the heart. This condition can lead to heart attacks. Some of the symptoms include chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, weakness or dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, nausea and heart palpitations.
- Peripheral artery disease: Peripheral artery disease results when arteries carrying blood to the lower leg and other extremities gets clogged. Symtoms include leg pain, numbness in your legs and feet, cold feet, and delayed healing of injuries to the feet.
- Carotid artery disease: Carotid artery disease results when arteries (carotid arteries) that supply oxygen to your brain gets clogged. This condition can lead to stroke. Symptoms include sensation of weakness or numbness on one side of your body, loss of vision on one side only, or inability to move an arm or a leg.
What can I do about it?
A healthy lifestyle can not only help you prevent, but also help you in managing arterial plaque and treatment of clogged arteries. Some of the changes you have to include in your lifestyle include:
- Cut your cholesterol: When dealing with clogged arteries, cutting cholesterol is the primary tool. You should ingest less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol each day. So start reading those food labels and start making some wise food choices.
- Lower your fat intake: According to the US Food and Drug Administration, less than 10 percent of your calories should come from saturated fat to prevent clogged arteries. If you are already dealing with clogged arteries, no more than 7 percent of your calories should come from saturated fat. In addition, you should also reduce the intake of trans fatty acids and hydrogenated fats as they are known to raise your LDL cholesterol.
- Stop smoking: Smoking is horrible for clogged arteries. If you've been diagnosed with clogged arteries, stop smoking immediately. Cigarette smoke has been found to increase the rate of atherosclerosis in the arteries of the heart, legs, and the aorta (largest artery in the body, originating from the heart and extending down to the abdomen).
- Exercise: You need to exercise at least three times a week for a half an hour a day to be getting enough cardiovascular exercise. It has the potential to reverse the procedure of clogged arteries by improving your cholesterol levels, making your heart stronger, and reduce blood pressure.
- Eat specific foods: Garlic has been found to reduce cholesterol levels and so are foods with high flavonoids like berries, apples, onions, and red wine. Grape juice has been shown in studies to reduce blood clotting. Green tea has been shown to be effective in lowering LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol).
- Do stress release activities: Stress can increase blood pressure, another risk factor for atherosclerosis. Engage in deep breathing, meditation and yoga whenever possible.
- Regular check ups: To detect and treat these conditions before any significant damage is done; you should go for regular medical checkups.
By modifying your lifestyle and creating healthier habits, you can treat or prevent clogged arteries and live a longer life.
