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Symptoms

Early warning symptoms are intermittent claudication (which see). These are pains in the legs and possibly feet, which leave upon resting. High blood pressure (see "Hypertension"). The later result is angina (chest pains) and heart attack.

Causes

These are two separate, major diseases, yet we list them together because the problems, effects, and solutions are so similar.

Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the walls of the arteries; atherosclerosis is the hardening of plaque on the walls, which causes the walls to harden. (The full explanation is somewhat more complicated.)

Hardened walls produce higher blood pressure, but plaque-hardened and narrow vessels does it also.

The end result of both is a heart attack.

The main difference between the two is that arteriosclerosis is primarily the hardened walls themselves (which the plaque especially produced). Whereas atherosclerosis is the thickening of that plaque in the arteries, so that the space for the blood to flow through keeps narrowing. In arteriosclerosis, these deposits are primarily composed of calcium; in atherosclerosis, the deposits consist of fatty substances, primarily cholesterol (a blood protein). But, much of the time, an odd assortment of both, along with lipoproteins, fatty acids, fibrous scar tissue, and blood clump together.

Both conditions have essentially the same effect on circulation, both cause hardening of the artery walls, both cause high blood pressure, and both eventually lead to one or more of the same things: angina (which is chest pain following exertion), heart attack (the heart muscle can no longer bear the lack of blood supply to it), and stroke (when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off). Death may or may not follow. The problem is that a clot of this plaque breaks loose, flows through the arteries, and gets stuck in a narrower artery. If this occurs in the heart muscle, angina and a heart attack may result; if in the brain, a stroke occurs.

To complicate the matter further, not only can arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis cause high blood pressure, but high blood pressure intensifies them both.

Causes include elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels, eating high cholesterol foods (such as meat, eggs, whole milk, or milk products).

Other causes include smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes, emotional stress, lack of exercise, or a family history of the disease. Advancing age increases the risk factor.

Pain in the legs (usually in the calf, but sometimes in the feet or elsewhere in the legs), which increase when walking but stops as soon as one rests, is intermittent claudication (which see). There may also be weakness, numbness, and a heavy feeling in the legs. This is a symptom of atherosclerosis in the limbs (peripheral atherosclerosis). There can also, but less often, be pain in the arms.

There is a home test you can do to help determine if this is beginning to occur: Test the pulse in your legs and foot. There are three places where this can be done: Apply light pressure on the top of the foot, the inner hollow of the ankle, and in the hollow behind the knee. If you feel no pulse, then the artery may be narrowing.

Atherosclerosis is the most common form of arterial disease in the U.S. and most frequently occurs in the lower limbs. It is the primary cause of death over the age of 65. Over 50% of the people between 65 and 70 will die of some form of this.

Treatments

• Eat high fiber foods that are low in fat and cholesterol. Primarily eat fruits, vegetables, and grains. Dark green leafy vegetables are important. Wheat bran, and other particulate, fibers are not as effective as those in fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

• Eat foods rich in vitamin E. This includes nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

• Only use cold-pressed vegetable oils (soy, corn, wheat germ, flaxseed). Never heat these oils; place them on your food at the table.

• Avoid refined sugar. It has been shown to increase serum cholesterol levels, leading to atherosclerosis.

• Do not eat animal protein; there is a definite connection between eating it and cardiovascular disease.

• Do not eat processed, junk, dairy, white flour, spiced, or fried foods. Avoid pies, ice cream, salt, egg yolks, sugar, coffee, colas, nicotine, and alcohol.

• Garlic eaten with cholesterol foods tends to reduce the likelihood that cholesterol will clog the arteries.

• If you know you are moving toward artery problems, eat no free oils.

• Eggplant tends to lower cholesterol levels.

• Both peanut oil and coconut oil increase atherosclerosis.

• Drink only distilled water.

• Reduce stress and avoid situations causing it.

• Get regular moderate exercise. Walking every day is the best. Build up slowly, but keep at it.

• A strict vegetarian diet (without milk and eggs) is a good way to avoid artery problems.

• Research at the University of Wisconsin disclosed that skim milk did not lower blood cholesterol.

• Overweight people should reduce. Even 20% or more above ideal weight carries a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis. What is your ideal weight? Assume 100 pounds for the first five feet; add to this five pounds for each inch over that, for women; add seven pounds per inch over that, for men.

• Do not smoke or use nicotine in any other form. Avoid second-hand smoke.

• Do not take shark cartilage. It may inhibit production of new blood vessels needed to increase blood circulation.

• Eliminate all environmental sources of metal poisoning, such as aluminum or copper cooking utensils, copper or lead plumbing, lead-glazed ceramics, contaminated water, etc. Toxic metals are known to be deposited, among other places, on artery walls.

• X-rays make premature arteriosclerosis more likely.

• Do not eat big evening meals. Best: Only eat plain fruit and plain bread for supper, and do this several hours before bedtime.

• Chromium (found in brewer's yeast, whole grains, and supplements) added to the diet lowers cholesterol.

• Keep the extremities warm, to maintain good circulation in them.

• Do not wear constrictive clothing (belts, garters, girdles, tight hosiery, etc.)

• Glucose intolerance can produce a 100% increased risk of atherosclerosis. Keep your blood sugar levels normal. Do not binge on sweets, etc.

• Avoid constipation, which weakens the liver and kidneys, which in turn sludges the blood. The Chinese treat stroke by treating constipation.

• Drink enough water!

• Periodically check your blood pressure.

• Too much vitamin D can elevate blood cholesterol.

-Also see "Lowering Triglycerides"; "Reducing Cholesterol"; "Hypertension"; "Stroke"; and "Cardiac Problems."

This page was last modified on 2 December 2010, at 01:42.

URL: http://naturalencyclopedia.com/Arteriosclerosis_and_Atherosclerosis

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