Atherosclerosis Pathology:

 

Atherosclerosis means there is an obstruction to the flow of blood in big and medium sized vessels walls in the human body due to accumulation of fat patches or plaques. Usually the inner layer of blood vessel is smooth and slippery in nature. If there are creaks in this layer, then fat accumulation beings to form. Blood vessels last their elasticity and become hardened.

 

Body has got its own mechanism for repairing any damaged part in the body. Here the monocytes become active and begin to repair the damaged inner walls and removes the accumulated fat particles. Some times the fat particles have the upper hand over the monocytes. Then these hardened fat particles separate themselves from the wall of the blood vessels and travel in the blood circulation and forms round balls called embolus.

 

It forms at the junction where the blood vessels divide into two branches and obstructs the blood flow. If the obstruction occurs in the coronary blood vessels, the heart-attack occurs. If it occurs in the brain –paralysis (stroke) occurs.

Atherosclerosis statistics:

 

The deaths due to Atherosclerosis are 2 times more than the cancer especially in western countries.

 

 Risk Factors:
 

1. Smoking

 

2. Rise in Blood Cholesterol Level

 

3. High blood pressure

 

4. Diabetes

 

5. Obesity

 

6. Sedentary life

 

7. High levels of Homo cysteine in the blood.

 

How can we know this condition of Atherosclerosis?

 

Usually these symptoms appear when the blood vessel is closed up to 70% only.

 

• If the blood vessels of heart (coronary vessels) – closes partially – the person gets heart attack.

 

• If the openings in the vessels closed completely, there is heart attack or heart failure or changing in the rhythm of heart beatings.

 

• If the vessels in the legs are totally closed-we get severe pain in the legs (called intermittent claudication).

 

In the persons beyond 50 years of the age-if the blood flow does not go to kidneys, kidney failure occurs.

If there is less oxygen supply to the muscles-we call it as “muscle cry”.

 
How to prevent Atherosclerosis?

 

1. Avoid smoking, Alcohol and meat.

 

2. Control Blood cholesterol level and take fat free diet. Stay away from fast foods.

 

3. Avoid stress and strain.

 

4. Take soya beans, oatmeal, brawn, Garlic, fish and more vegetables.

 

5. Garlic: It is called as “old doctor”. It does more benefit of health to the humans. It prevents thickening of blood and blood clots and thus prevents heart diseases. It contains “Alison” a chemical which prevents cancer. Garlic decreases the high blood pressure. It is better to take it in raw form rather than cooked product.

 

6. Fish: It contains omega-3 fatty acids and also cad liver oil which prevents heart diseases, joint pains and it increases brain activity. The omega 3 fatty acids increase the good cholesterol (HDL), and decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and thus prevent heart diseases.

 

Most of the heart attacks are preventable with simple measures like diet control and regular exercise. Meditation and Yoga reduce the stress levels.

 

Please share your preventive measures.

 

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