Published in the section About life
Live healthy from 10/12/2011 . summary of the section about life
Atherosclerosis - it destroys our blood vessels, but there are reasons why it occurs. The presenters tell what reasons contribute to its development and how to combat atherosclerosis.
Home » Atherosclerosis » How to deal with vascular atherosclerosis - methods and means
When deciding how to deal with vascular atherosclerosis, it is necessary to take into account that this is a chronic disease. Lipid metabolism is disrupted, this is accompanied by cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels, which develop into plaques. As a result, sclerosis develops, that is, the proliferation of connective tissue, thickening of the walls due to calcification (serious calcium deposits). The arteries begin to deform, the lumen gradually narrows, and then closes completely. This leads to various complications, among which one of the most dangerous is a brain aneurysm.
To prevent deterioration of the condition and begin to actively fight atherosclerosis, it is necessary to take into account the following risk factors:
Typically, the disease begins to develop with improper nutrition - too fatty foods, an unbalanced menu lead to the body producing too much “bad” cholesterol. Plaques gradually block the vascular lumen, blood circulation is disrupted, and tissues are no longer supplied with all necessary substances.
As treatment and prevention, a special diet is prescribed, the main purpose of which is to reduce fat consumption. You should consume no more than 30% cholesterol-containing foods per day, the share of saturated fats is reduced to 10%. The allowed amount per day is only up to 300 mg.
Headache, tinnitus? Constant dizziness, it is difficult to get out of bed, the ceiling is floating, the floor disappears from under your feet. Familiar symptoms. This is cerebral atherosclerosis.
Naturally, the first question that arises is how to deal with cerebral atherosclerosis .
Atherosclerosis is a disease of the blood vessels. Cholesterol plaques appear on their walls, which grow over the years, become stronger and close the lumen of the blood vessel.
Organs or tissues lack oxygen. If the vessels of the heart are blocked, then the heart muscle begins to experience real hunger: coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction occurs.
When the vessels of the lower extremities are affected, pain and spasms begin in the legs, the feeling of cold in the legs does not leave you even in the heat. Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities is dangerous due to gangrene. And with atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels, an acute disorder of cerebral circulation - a stroke - can occur.
Paralysis of an arm or leg occurs, and the ability to speak is impaired. Vision in one eye is greatly reduced. This is how you can answer the question of what to do to combat atherosclerosis.
First of all, you need to change your lifestyle and think about other things besides the prescribed pills. It is worth paying attention to medicinal herbs.
For treatment with mountain arnica, it is better to use its tincture. Fifty grams of flowers pour five hundred milliliters of seventy percent alcohol and leave for twenty-one days. Take ten to fifteen drops before meals thirty minutes.
Fifty grams of dry clover pour half a liter of vodka, leave for fourteen days and take two tablespoons before lunch and before bed for a month. Drink for one month, take a ten-day break and continue drinking.
Atherosclerosis is a formidable disease, which, unfortunately, for the time being goes unnoticed by a person, and manifests itself only when irreversible changes occur in the body. The targets for atherosclerosis are large and small vessels (heart, brain and other organs). As a result, the vessels lose their elasticity, become denser, their lumen narrows, and significant disturbances in blood flow develop.
Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities usually begins with chilliness and a feeling of discomfort in the legs. Over time, due to unbearable pain, it becomes impossible to walk, and thrombosis occurs. Gangrene often develops and the legs have to be amputated.
According to the WHO statistical yearbook, more than 1 million people die from cardiovascular diseases in Russia every year, which significantly exceeds similar averages in Japan, Australia, the USA and European countries.
Atherosclerosis is the main cause of circulatory diseases
Acute heart failure, angina pectoris, cerebrovascular accidents, heart attacks, and strokes today spare neither the elderly nor the young. Such diagnoses appear in 58 percent of death certificates.
The first symptoms are immediately after birth
More than half a century ago, American doctors were amazed by the results of a massive pathological examination. The bodies of young soldiers killed in the North Korean War were subjected to it. In more than half of twenty-year-old boys, the lumen of the arteries supplying the heart was twice the normal size due to atherosclerotic growths. But the soldiers underwent examinations more than once during their lifetime, and they did not complain about their health.
At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, diseases of the cardiovascular system acquired the nature of a pandemic, being the main cause of disability and death in the population of economically developed countries. The main role in circulatory disorders in arterial vessels belongs to atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arteries that occurs as a result of lipid metabolism disorders and is accompanied by the deposition of cholesterol and its “bad” fractions in the vessel wall. Deposits form atherosclerotic (cholesterol) plaques on the walls of blood vessels. The subsequent growth of connective tissue in them (sclerosis), and calcification (calcium deposition) of the vessel wall lead to deformation and narrowing of the lumen until complete blockage.
Damage to the arteries supplying the brain causes either a transient (micro-stroke) or persistent (stroke) disturbance of cerebral circulation. Deposition of cholesterol in the arteries of the extremities is the cause of the development of lameness, pain in the calf during exercise, and gangrene of the extremity. Atherosclerosis of the abdominal arteries leads to intestinal ischemia and gangrene. Possible narrowing of the renal arteries due to the accumulation of cholesterol leads to a pronounced increase in blood pressure.
Such a high probability of atherosclerosis requires timely provision of therapeutic and preventive assistance, because it is known that a person’s age is determined by the state of his vascular bed. In the popular scientific literature devoted to the problem of atherosclerosis, the expression “ cleansing of blood vessels ” is used. Although not a medical term, “ vascular cleansing ” defines a number of extremely relevant measures for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis:
The next requirement for the diet is calorie restriction. In this case, the total caloric intake should not exceed 2500 calories per day. However, we must not forget about the variety and nutritional value of food. It is known, for example, that a deficiency of protein in food reduces resistance to stress, a lack of fatty acids contained in vegetable oils impairs brain function, etc.
The consumption of saturated fat, or more simply cholesterol, can be reduced by reducing the amount of beef, pork and lamb. It is recommended to consume any meat products boiled.
Fatty fish, such as halibut, contain a completely different type of fat that helps dissolve cholesterol plaques in arteries affected by atherosclerosis. Experts from Duke University believe that even one fish meal a week may be enough to reduce the risk of an unexpected heart attack by 50%. Interestingly, you can take fish oil instead of fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids and lowers cholesterol.
These are the products that lower cholesterol and “clean” blood vessels .
Vegetable oil contains “healthy” polyunsaturated fats. Olive oil is considered the most beneficial among vegetable fats. Try to replace them with other types of fats that contain bad cholesterol. Preference should be given to unrefined, cold-pressed olive oil. Because it contains a record amount of antioxidants that are beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, preventing the development of atherosclerosis. This oil is also involved in cleaning blood vessels from cholesterol.
But you can’t get carried away with vegetable oils either! This is often forgotten in recommendations. The fact is that an excess of polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to a decrease in good cholesterol, which has an anti-sclerotic effect.
Cholesterol intake can be reduced by reducing the consumption of egg yolks (4 yolks per week) and organ meats:
An important point is the inclusion of wholemeal products in the diet. The substances contained in the shells of grain crops bind and remove from the body cholesterol contained in food, as well as salts of heavy metals, nitrates and nitrites, carcinogens. Whole grain bread, wheat bran and oat bran contain coarse fiber. The norm is at least 20 g of fiber per day.
It is necessary to limit table salt and include foods rich in potassium salts: baked potatoes, green onions, parsley, apricots, dried apricots, figs, prunes, apricots, bananas. Coffee beans contain a lot of potassium, but instant coffee does not! And also in black tea leaves. Green tea contains several powerful antioxidants that lower cholesterol and help normalize blood pressure. 3 teaspoons of green tea are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, steeped for 10 minutes and filtered. This amount is enough for a day.
Eating any vegetables and fruits is beneficial. It is advisable to consume from 5 to 7 different types daily. Eggplants occupy a special place; they help eliminate cholesterol and also reduce its content in the blood and in the walls of blood vessels.
Research shows that eating 150g of shelled nuts per week reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack by 33% in some patients. However, you should not get carried away with nuts, since these are very high-calorie foods that contribute to weight gain.
Cabbage is very useful:
They contain antioxidants and other valuable biologically active substances that are beneficial for blood vessels and the heart.
It is recommended to eat 2-4 sweet and sour apples daily. Black currants, shadberry and garlic are useful.
Traditional methods of treating vascular atherosclerosis are mainly associated with the use of healthy products that can be found in any garden and summer cottage.
Surgical cleaning of blood vessels involves: removal of blood clots from the lumen of the artery, elimination of plaques narrowing or clogging the lumen of the vessel, the so-called endarterectomy. If it is impossible to locally remove obstacles in the lumen of the vessel, a new roundabout blood circulation path is created (bypass surgery).
Currently, surgeons have in their arsenal new, progressive methods of restoring or improving blood circulation in vessels, using X-ray endovascular interventions, during which it is possible to expand the lumen of the vessel (balloon plasty) and install a device to prevent narrowing of the vessel in the plasty area (stenting).
The problem of atherosclerosis cannot be eliminated by using any one method, even the most modern one. Treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis are complex and constant, with mandatory monitoring of their effectiveness.
In order to get an appointment with a vascular surgeon or undergo an examination, simply call +7 (812) 962-92-91 and agree on a time convenient for you.
You will undergo surgical treatment in our Center. Preparation for surgery involves performing a complex of preoperative examinations. Using the links below you can familiarize yourself with the list of required studies.
Atherosclerosis is a formidable disease, which, unfortunately, for the time being goes unnoticed by a person, and manifests itself only when irreversible changes occur in the body. The targets for atherosclerosis are large and small vessels (heart, brain and other organs). As a result, the vessels lose their elasticity, become denser, their lumen narrows, and significant disturbances in blood flow develop.
Atherosclerotic plaques can form in almost all vessels in the human body, which becomes the cause of serious disorders. With progressive atherosclerosis of the heart vessels, the blood supply to the heart muscle suffers, and coronary heart disease inevitably develops. And then a middle-aged person (40-50 years old), full of strength, turns into a profound invalid in just a few years, unable to walk even a hundred meters. Frequent attacks of suffocation and excruciating chest pain (even with minimal physical activity) become the patient’s constant companions for many years.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels initially signals itself with banal headaches, transient dizziness, and sleep disturbances. However, pretty soon patients begin to notice memory problems, decreased performance, and increased fatigue. Seemingly harmless manifestations can one day end tragically - in a stroke.
Unfortunately, atherosclerosis to varying degrees can be detected in ANY person. Moreover, the earliest signs of this disease (lipid stains and stripes on the walls of blood vessels) can be detected at a very young age - in children and adolescents. As a person ages, the growth of atherosclerotic plaques accelerates significantly. Severe manifestations of atherosclerosis are observed in men, usually after 40, in women - after 50 years.
Therefore, in order to prolong your life and improve its quality, it is important to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis. World experience shows that this goal is achievable! Thus, over the past 20 years, the world has managed to reduce mortality rates from diseases caused by atherosclerosis, in particular from coronary heart disease - by more than 30%.
THE FIRST STEP in the fight against atherosclerosis should be to determine the levels of cholesterol in the blood, which can be both “bad” and “good”
Cholesterol is an integral component of cell membranes, hormones, and bile acids in the body. Approximately 20% of the cholesterol needed by the body is obtained from food, 80% is synthesized in the liver. Cholesterol circulates in the blood in the form of complexes (with carrier proteins) - lipoproteins.
Lipoproteins are divided into “bad” and “good”. “Bad” are fractions of cholesterol that contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels (low and very low density lipoproteins). “Good” are high-density lipoproteins, which, on the contrary, prevent the occurrence of unwanted atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels.
Thus, atherosclerosis can be effectively combated by regulating the levels of cholesterol and its fractions. In accordance with the recommendations of the US National Atherosclerosis Program, the first determination of total cholesterol levels should be made at the age of 20 years.
To rid yourself of the severe consequences of atherosclerosis, it is necessary to reduce the levels of total cholesterol, low and very low density lipoproteins, and maintain the values of high density lipoproteins at the maximum level. Otherwise, the risk of atherosclerosis progression is very high.
Thus, to slow the progression of atherosclerosis, it is necessary to restore normal levels of cholesterol and its fractions in the blood. After all, according to a report by the US National Service on Health and Nutrition of the Adult Population, reducing the average level of blood cholesterol by just 1% can reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases by more than 3%.
SECOND STEP – SUSTAINABLE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABIT
To achieve this goal, you need to take the SECOND STEP - develop a sustainable habit of a healthy lifestyle: stop smoking and drinking alcohol, lose excess weight, and maintain an adequate level of physical activity. It is also important to follow a strict diet with a minimum of fat-containing foods in the diet, namely: forever forget about pork, butter, processed cheese, sour cream or mayonnaise, and love dishes made from fish or vegetables, chicken or turkey, veal or lean beef.
Out of habit, these activities may seem difficult. But the transition to a new life without atherosclerosis is necessary, and most importantly, can be accomplished, and at any age.
THIRD STEP, Fighting atherosclerosis WITH COLLOIDAL PHYTOFORMULUS AngiOmega Complex
AngiΩmega Complex - an innovative composition!
The anti-atherosclerotic value of AngΩMega Complex is due to its innovative composition, containing such unique components as policosanol and oleuropein. analogues of which are not yet widely used in our country.
Policosanol. isolated from the waxy mass of sugar cane, and oleuropein. which is an extract of olive tree leaves, actively corrects cholesterol levels. This proven effect is achieved both by inhibiting the processes of cholesterol synthesis in the liver and by inhibiting the production of “bad” cholesterol and enhancing the formation of “good” fractions of cholesterol.
The result will not be long in coming:
AngiΩMega Complex is also unique in that all its promising components not only have their own anti-atherosclerotic activity, but also successfully complement each other’s properties. Thus, the anti-atherosclerotic properties of policosanol and oleuropein by the omega-3, 6, 9 unsaturated fatty acids contained in the A ngiΩmega Complex . These acids, in addition to the fact that they themselves contribute to the normalization of cholesterol levels and its fractions, have an antioxidant effect, have a beneficial effect on fat metabolism, and protect the vascular wall from the effects of various damaging factors.
Vitamin E (tocopherol) optimizes the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and prevents cell destruction, Niacin (vitamin PP, nicotinic acid) regulates fat metabolism, participates in redox reactions and improves microcirculation in the heart muscle.
It is extremely important that all components of the Angimega Complex colloidal phytoformula are natural. In addition, AngΩMega Complex does not contain genetically modified and nanomodified components. Therefore, when taking AngiΩMega Complex in courses (after all, the fight against atherosclerosis is a long process) you do not have to worry about the development of adverse reactions.
On the contrary, people who have trusted the Angimega Complex note improved well-being, increased performance, the return of a lost taste for life, and most importantly, an unprecedented influx of strength to implement long-planned plans.
In addition to safety, Angiomega Complex has another important advantage. This phytoformula, which is a colloidal solution, is perfectly absorbed by the body (up to 98%).
All clinical effects and excellent properties of the colloidal phytoformula Angimega Complex have been proven by many years of research in clinics in European countries. And this success is not accidental. After all, Angimega Complex is produced at a state-of-the-art facility and in accordance with the most stringent requirements of the pharmacopoeial standard c GMP, which determines the excellent quality characteristics of this product.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arteries that occurs as a result of lipid metabolism disorders and is accompanied by the deposition of cholesterol and its “bad” fractions in the vessel wall. Deposits form atherosclerotic (cholesterol) plaques on the walls of blood vessels. The subsequent growth of connective tissue in them (sclerosis), and calcification (calcium deposition) of the vessel wall lead to deformation and narrowing of the lumen until complete blockage.
When the arteries supplying the heart are damaged, a phenomenon called angina pectoris (chest pain) occurs and, as a result, acute myocardial infarction may develop.
Damage to the arteries supplying the brain causes either transient (micro-stroke) or persistent (stroke) disturbance of cerebral circulation. Deposition of cholesterol in the arteries of the extremities is the cause of the development of lameness, pain in the calf during exercise, and gangrene of the extremity. Atherosclerosis of the abdominal arteries leads to intestinal ischemia and gangrene. Possible narrowing of the renal arteries due to the accumulation of cholesterol leads to a pronounced increase in blood pressure.
Such a high probability of atherosclerosis requires timely provision of therapeutic and preventive assistance, because it is known that a person’s age is determined by the state of his vascular bed. In the popular scientific literature devoted to the problem of atherosclerosis, the expression “ cleansing of blood vessels ” is used. Although not a medical term, “ vascular cleansing ” defines a number of extremely relevant measures for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis:
First of all, it is supposed to reduce the consumption of fats (containing cholesterol) to such a level that they account for less than 30% of daily calories. In this case, the proportion of saturated fats should not exceed 10%. It is recommended that cholesterol intake be no more than 300 mg per day.
It is necessary to remove the skin from the bird and avoid eating the internal organs of animals.
Also, the diet should satisfy the body's needs for vitamin B6. It is actively involved in the processes of fat metabolism, in the transport and breakdown of cholesterol, and in organic iodine, which increases the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thus, it stimulates the processing of dangerous cholesterol.
For this purpose, it is recommended to include seafood in the diet:
These are the products that lower cholesterol and “clean” blood vessels .
Vegetable oil contains “healthy” polyunsaturated fats. Olive oil is considered the most beneficial among vegetable fats. Try to replace them with other types of fats that contain bad cholesterol. Preference should be given to unrefined, cold-pressed olive oil. Because it contains a record amount of antioxidants that are beneficial for the heart and blood vessels, preventing the development of atherosclerosis. This oil is also involved in cleaning blood vessels from cholesterol.
55-60% of daily calories should be provided by complex carbohydrates:
One of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids is flaxseed. Canadian cardiologists have found that regular consumption of flaxseed provides reliable protection against the formation of blood clots and cholesterol deposition in the arteries, leading to heart attack and stroke. The risk of heart attack can be reduced by up to 40%. 2 tbsp per day is enough. tablespoons of flaxseed, which can be added to porridge, salads and other dishes. Flaxseed should be stored in the refrigerator.
In fact, all of the above products can be classified as traditional methods of treating vascular atherosclerosis.
It is highly recommended to distribute the diet into 5-6 meals. The last meal should be no later than 18-19 hours.
Nuts have a similar effect:
The diet is prescribed for 3-4 months, after which tests are monitored. If laboratory data and well-being indicate an improvement, then monitoring of the patient continues, but the diet is not removed. If no effect is obtained (cholesterol levels are even higher than normal), then the diet is tightened. If after another 3 months no effect is observed, then modern medications from the statin group are added.
Statins are perhaps the most effective proven medications for lowering blood cholesterol levels.
The most proven statins are atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. However, it must be emphasized that cholesterol-lowering medications are prescribed only on the recommendations of your doctor and under his direct supervision!
Surgical methods of cleaning blood vessels are used for clinically pronounced manifestations of vascular insufficiency. In case of damage to the abdominal aorta and arteries of the lower extremities, the indications are:
Surgical cleaning of blood vessels involves: removal of blood clots from the lumen of the artery, elimination of plaques narrowing or clogging the lumen of the vessel, the so-called endarterectomy. If it is impossible to locally remove obstacles in the lumen of the vessel, a new roundabout blood circulation path is created (bypass surgery).
Currently, surgeons have in their arsenal new, progressive methods of restoring or improving blood circulation in vessels using X-ray endovascular interventions, during which it is possible to expand the lumen of the vessel (balloon plasty) and install a device to prevent narrowing of the vessel in the plastic area (stenting).
Vascular Center named after. T. Toppera provides qualified assistance for all types of vascular diseases.
Grapes, apples and juices squeezed from them can prevent the development of atherosclerosis. French researchers came to this conclusion, reports Reuters. Experiments conducted on hamsters also showed that fruits have a less pronounced healing effect compared to fruit juices.
French researchers were able to prove that processing fruits can significantly influence their beneficial properties. Most people eat processed fruits (canned, dried, etc.), but information about their nutritional value usually refers to the original product, experts say.
To find out how juicing affects the content of phenolic components (strong antioxidants), experimental hamsters were given grapes, grape juice, apples and apple juice in combination with foods that provoke the development of atherosclerosis. The control group maintained their normal diet. The amount of fruit fed to the hamsters was equivalent to the daily consumption of three apples or three bunches of grapes by an adult, and the amount of juice was equivalent to four glasses.
By the end of the experiment, the hamsters on the fruit diet had lower blood cholesterol levels compared to the control group, which was given water. They also had less oxidative stress (cell damage during oxidation) and less lipid accumulation in the aorta. Dark grape juice was the most effective, followed by white grapes, apple juice and whole apples.
As scientists note, whole apples and grapes have approximately equal content of phenolic components, while juice from dark grapes contains 2.5 times more of them than juice from apples.
The study results indicate that the amount of phenols contained in foods is directly related to their antioxidant properties. Other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, may enhance this effect, said Professor Kelly Decord from the University of Montpellier.
In general, the experiment demonstrated that fruits and juices squeezed from them can play an important role in preventing the development of such a serious disease as atherosclerosis, the professor concluded.
For reference: atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arteries, which is expressed in the hardening of their walls, uneven narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, deterioration of blood circulation, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Among those in whose name such sad certificates are written, every year there are more and more young people who did not live to reach thirty. The latter diagnosis is often the first for them: after all, outwardly they seemed to be absolutely healthy people. The cause of death is chronic “lack of oxygen supply” to the tissues of the heart and brain. And at some unexpected moment - its complete cessation.
In the vast majority of cases, oxygen “underfeeding” and blockade are caused by atherosclerosis. The literal translation from Greek is “hardening of the pulp.” Gruel is cholesterol (fat bound to protein). The core of cholesterol plaques that disfigure blood vessels consists of it. The core eventually grows into the connective tissue of the vessel injured by the plaque. Various substances, such as calcium, take part in the formation of plaques. Similar “stalactites” and “stalagmites” are found during autopsies of men who died in their third decade, and in women in their fourth decade. But until about the age of 70, men hold the lead in the prevalence of plaques. “Atherosclerotic equality of the sexes” is restored only after eighty - in men and women who died at this and later ages, the quality and “dislocation” of these formations are approximately the same. But even complicated plaques do not always kill: in many mature people, atherosclerosis proceeds sluggishly.
Atherosclerosis is invisible for the time being: the symptoms of the diseases it causes appear when the vessels are already three-quarters blocked. The first cholesterol deposits appear when... The man still doesn’t really know how to walk. So-called fatty spots, spots and streaks appear in the aortas of half of children under one year of age and in almost all (96 percent) between the ages of 4 and 16 years. However, by the time of puberty, all “hints of atherosclerosis” disappear. Almost. About a tenth of them remain in “combat readiness”.
There are rare lucky people who do not have cholesterol plaques and never have had them. There are also the “unlucky ones,” for example, those with a liver that “cannot” recognize and remove cholesterol from the body. As a result, the blood is “overpopulated” with cholesterol and in this case there can be no talk of any disappearance of fatty stripes and spots by the beginning of adult life.
According to statistics, approximately one person in five hundred has an “inept” liver. A predisposition to atherosclerosis can also be caused by other metabolic disorders. Inherited or developed due to diseases, dietary habits, lifestyle. That is why Americans, who have realized the danger, are preventing atherosclerosis even in children. After all, even a small cholesterol plaque under unfavorable circumstances (high blood pressure, physical stress) can crack and rupture. And since the plaque is “bathed in blood,” a blood clot—a thrombus—forms around it. Such a clot most often blocks the blood flow.
Atherosclerotic deposits can form in a wide variety of arteries. If the renal artery is damaged, for example, the kidneys become diseased. When the arteries of the legs are damaged, intermittent claudication develops. (In men, it is usually preceded by the development of impotence. However, this does not mean that every man who limp is impotent.) Plaques that can form blood clots form primarily in the vessels that supply the heart and brain: in the aorta, coronary and carotid arteries. Moreover, in certain areas - in the areas of branches and bends of blood vessels - places where the blood pushed out of the heart comes into particularly “delicate” contact with the intravascular lining (it is called the endothelium).
But what delicacy? With each beat (that is, 60-70 times per minute), the heart “throws” a third of a glass of blood into almost the same area of the aorta. Moreover, under such pressure that, portion by portion, this third of the glass comes into contact with the wall of the vessel at a speed of 25 meters per second. And so all my life.
Cholesterol, considered today the worst destroyer of blood vessels, sticks only to damaged areas of the endothelium. And the more there are, the stronger the consequences. After all, in a healthy vessel, the endothelium can fight cholesterol, blood clots, and spasms. For example, if, having “tested” the composition of the blood, he “understands” that the vessels need to be dilated - he produces a vasodilator substance, and then there is no hypertension.
A healthy endothelium does not allow microorganisms to multiply in its tissues. And, by the way, there are a lot of them in cholesterol plaques. These are mainly pathogens of herpes and. colds. We are talking about one of the three known varieties of chlamydia - not the one that is sexually transmitted, but the one that enters the body when someone sneezes and coughs nearby. It causes acute respiratory infections and pneumonia. And today research is being conducted to understand: does chlamydia come into ready-made cholesterol plaques or, on the contrary, take an active part in their formation?
Damage to the endothelium and the development of plaques are promoted by diabetes, nervous and hormonal disorders, metabolic disorders, and diseases of the digestive system. All this is a consequence of a violation of humoral regulation, that is, the coordination of processes occurring in the body through its liquid media (blood, lymph, tissue fluid). And all regulation is controlled by the nervous system. When its balance is disturbed, systems fail.
However, more often the balance is upset not so much because of life circumstances, but because of our reaction to them. The best neuro-hormonal background is ensured by the type of human reaction that we call “goodwill”. It is kindness and calmness that give a chance for healing. After all, atherosclerotic plaques in the body not only form, but also disintegrate, “resolve,” and the damaged endothelium is still restored. If you start living in such a way that the recovery process goes faster than the destruction process, the disease can be kept under control.
Residents of Mediterranean countries are generally characterized by good health. This is helped by the peculiarities of their cuisine - fresh fruits and vegetables, uncrushed cereals. But there is also something that does not fit into the concept of healthy eating. For example, researchers have long tried to understand the “French” paradox. The gist of it is simple: the French consume as much, if not more, saturated fat than Americans, but the death rate from heart disease among men in France is less than 40 percent of that in America. Why?
Most likely, the local dry red wine helps the French protect themselves from heart ailments, which many of them drink one or two glasses a day. This is most likely due to the substance resveratrol, which is produced by red and black grapes during the ripening process to protect themselves from fungus. This substance is essentially a natural pesticide. But as a result of animal experiments conducted in Japan, it was discovered that resveratrol also helps reduce fat and cholesterol in the blood.
Citrus fruits, in particular the substance pectin, released from grapefruit, also fight fat and cholesterol. Pectin is a soluble fiber that is found only in citrus fruits themselves, but not in juice. During an experiment conducted by researchers on animals that were fed a high-fat diet for a year, in those receiving pectin and in patients with atherosclerosis, the number of plaques on the walls of blood vessels was 62% less than in the control group.
1 percent of all deaths were due to cardiovascular disease in 1900. Since the mid-60s, atherosclerosis began to rapidly advance. Today, heart and vascular diseases are the cause of more than half of all deaths in the world.
How to help yourself without drugs
Several simple ways to prevent illness
How to fight atherosclerosis? There are special medications to remove excess fat and cholesterol from the body. But, like any medicine, they have side effects.
Fortunately, atherosclerosis is very responsive to non-drug treatments and prevention. Responsive to such an extent that even the World Health Organization recommends using them first. Scientists claim that atherosclerosis is a disease for everyone, and cancer is a disease of choice. That is, these diseases are based on the same disorders.
Calm, and only calm!
We have already said that goodwill, as a character trait, helps prevent illness. How do you treat people and yourself? Here are some more tips.
1. In difficult life situations, try not to lose confidence. Remember that a depressed state of mind disrupts the rhythm of all body systems.
2. Visit your doctor regularly to monitor your blood cholesterol levels.
3. Measure your blood pressure often.
4. Move more. This helps maintain balance in all processes in the body and fight excess weight.
5. Stop smoking. Nicotine destroys the endothelium. The amino acid taurine helps to neutralize the effect of nicotine, at least partly - it is especially abundant in fatty fish. 100 grams of such fish per day is enough.
Don't make food your enemy
To prevent atherosclerosis, you should limit the consumption of egg yolks, liver, kidneys, brains, lard, butter, sour cream and fatty meats.
The milk you drink should contain no more than 1 percent fat.
Cook food only with vegetable oil (sunflower or olive).
The preferred meat products are skinless chicken and turkey, young lamb, veal, and lean beef.
We need to eat more fish. Fatty is especially good, but any boiled or stewed version is healthy - preferably not fried or salted.
The basis of the diet should be plant foods: vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, cereals, fruits.
It is good to include the following gifts of nature in salads and teas:
beets, apples, garlic;
black currants, seaweed;
cabbage, onions, garlic, lingonberries, strawberries;
dandelion, clover, acacia flowers;
leaves of linden, raspberry, strawberry, black currant;
larch needles, hop cones;
beet tops, carrots, radishes, radishes, celery, rhubarb, asparagus.
It is better to season salads with sour milk, horseradish, and applesauce.
But in order to be treated with “herbs for atherosclerosis”, you need to know well all their properties, and all your diseases too. Take plantain, for example. It fights bacteria excellently, but it can sharply lower blood pressure. What if it’s already low for you? And will the plantain lower it when you drive or cross the road? That is why competent herbalists treat not with one, but with several (sometimes 10 - 15) herbs at once. Herbs mutually cancel out possible undesirable effects. But remember: compiling a collection for yourself on your own, according to a book, is dangerous. Herbs can do a lot, but only under the supervision of a competent specialist.
And one more thing: the manifestations of atherosclerosis are many-sided and, as already mentioned, are noticeable mainly only at serious stages of the disease. Therefore, it is better to even prevent atherosclerosis against the background of regular medical examinations.