Heart disease is more prevalent than you think.
With over 600,000 people dying of heart disease in the United States alone every year, that is one in four deaths that occur.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women.
There are different types of heart disease that are found in both men and women, but Coronary Heart Disease or CHD is the most common type that is found.
This is one that kills close to 400,000 people in the United States every year.
Arteriosclerosis is known as the thickening of the artery walls in a person.
This can be caused by a number of factors, but most commonly, it is due to old age.
Understanding how to prevent this and protect yourself, it can reduce the chances of getting heart disease as you age.
What Exactly is Arteriosclerosis
Most commonly found in those that are older, this is the hardening and thickening of the walls in the arteries.
There can also be buildup found inside the arteries of plaque which causes the walls to thicken up.
The arteries are then unable to move blood throughout the body.
This can cause serious complications, as the heart needs this blood and oxygen to continue to pump.
The arteries are the main transport system in the body to move blood.
If there is a buildup, or the walls are too tough or rugged to move the blood, this can cause the blood to stop moving in the body.
When the walls of the arteries become damaged, this then allows cholesterol to build up in the insides of the arteries, eventually blocking them.
Usually, the body tries to clean up this cholesterol on its own, but might actually get stuck to the walls, causing further issues.
Over time, this plaque builds up in the bloodstream and eventually leads to blood not being able to pass through these blocked vents.
This can lead to heart disease and eventually death in the person suffering from it.
This happens in the heart region, or it can also happen to the arteries that run to the brain.
When the arteries to the brain are blocked, this causes a stroke.
Are There Symptoms of Arteriosclerosis?
It can take many years for anything to be noticed in a person, and often times, it is not noticed until it is too late to do anything about it.
This is when the plaque ruptures the inside of the artery wall when blood flow becomes too restricted to get through.
Those experiencing a blockage to the brain might notice tingling or numbness in the face, paralysis, hard time breathing, a severe headache or weakness in the body.
If the arteries going to the body are having the issue, this can cause the person to experience extreme anxiety, chest pains, a feeling of being faint, vomiting, coughing, or having a hard time breathing.
What are the Causes of Arteriosclerosis?
There are a number of factors that come into play when it comes to damage that is done to the insides of the artery.
- The factors can include, but are not limited to:
- Smoking – biggest risk factor for damage to arteries, lungs, heart, etc.
- High levels of cholesterol built up in the body
- High blood pressure levels that remain elevated
- High levels of sugar in the blood that is not managed
There are many issues that can arise when any of these are something a person is dealing with.
It is very important to reach out to a physician if you’re dealing with any of them, as they can lead to permanent damage and even death if not taken care of.
Serious Complications Arise with Arteriosclerosis
There are a number of serious complications that arise when you do not have this issue taken care of.
This is because the arteries are the main passageway for blood to move through the body and when they are unable to do their job, this stops blood flow, leading to serious problems or even death.
The complications that can come from having this condition include:
- Heart disease and heart failure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Aneurysm
- Arrhythmia
- Death
Anyone of these causes further complications in the body which can affect the other systems from working properly.
If the issue is not resolved, it can also lead to death without any warning signs ahead of time.
This is why it is so important for those that have any risk factors to be taken care of sooner, rather than later by their doctor to have the necessary treatment done to reduce the chances of having any of these serious complications.
Prevention of Arteriosclerosis and Heart Disease
Sometimes, this cannot be treated which can lead the person to death because the problem wasn’t prevented.
Prevention is the best treatment for this.
In order to prevent the body from developing the condition, you should limit the risks of developing plaque in the arteries.
These risks include, but are not limited to:
Having a healthier diet plan overall.
By reducing the amount of bad cholesterol that you eat, you can essentially reduce the amount of plaque build-up is in the body.
There are also foods that you can eat to help keep cholesterol levels down such as nuts, seeds, olive oils, fish, and avocados.
It is important that if you are obese, you work to reduce the amount of weight that you have.
This can be done through the best diet and exercise plan.
Additionally, even if you are not overweight, it is important to have the proper exercise to keep you in the best health.
Not smoking or doing drugs.
These are two things that can raise blood pressure and cause further complications in the body.
Smoking is actually one of the biggest risk factors for arteriosclerosis.
Quitting as soon as possible is one of the best things you can do for your arteries and heart, but also your overall well-being.
There are the risk factors of diabetes, genetics, air pollution, or others that come into play, so it is important to know your background.
Preventing this condition is the best way to stay away from heart attacks, strokes, and other complications that happen when blood flow is restricted in the body.
It is important to take care of yourself and if you have any risk factors that lead you to believe that you might develop arteriosclerosis, then it is important to address them as soon as possible.
As you age, there are a number of issues that may need to be addressed.
This is normal for everyone.
Making sure to take the best care of yourself and practice prevention is the only way to ensure that you are reducing the chances of having any of these health issues arise.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350569
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/arterial-disease
http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/atherosclerosis
