 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- What is atherosclerosis?
- Symptoms of atherosclerosis
- Causes of atherosclerosis
- Prevention of atherosclerosis
- Risk factors for atherosclerosis
- Complications of atherosclerosis
- When to see a doctor about atherosclerosis
- Diagnosis of atherosclerosis
- Conventional treatment of atherosclerosis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of atherosclerosis
- Living with atherosclerosis
- Caring for someone with atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- Diabetes - some forms of diabetes may be unpreventable (diabetes type 1 and possibly some cases of gestational diabetes). Diabetes, even type 1, can still cause a number of adverse effects on the arteries and on heart health and may be implicated in the development of atherosclerosis, especially if it is not managed well (with medication and lifestyle changes)
- Genetics - some people are just born with artery walls that either can become easily damaged or are defective in some way and so this can create an unavoidable risk in the development of atherosclerosis
Advertisement
There may be a number of ways to prevent atherosclerosis from occurring:
- Reduce the risk of diabetes - people who have type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of developing atherosclerosis due to the adverse effects of the condition on the arteries and the heart
- Lower blood cholesterol - blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol should be kept lower than 100 mg/dL to prevent high cholesterol levels, which are implicated in causing atherosclerosis
- Lower homocysteine levels - the condition called hyperhomocysteinemia occurs when there are high levels of the amino acid by-product homocysteine in the blood. Research suggests that having high blood levels of homocysteine may be a factor that increases likelihood of developing atherosclerosis, so reducing homocysteine levels would help to prevent atherosclerosis from developing
- Blood pressure - high blood pressure (hypertension) is another known risk factor for damaging the artery walls and increasing risk for heart disease such as atherosclerosis. People with high blood pressure need to reduce their blood pressure to prevent the risk of developing atherosclerosis
- Low saturated fat diet - a diet high in saturated fat (high fat dairy, red meat, processed and junk foods) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in the diet, by choosing lower fat dairy, limit red meat in the diet and strictly limit processed and junk foods may help to prevent risk of atherosclerosis
- Physical activity - adequate physical activity is required every day (at least 30 minutes) to help condition the heart, ensure proper circulation and blood flow and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease such as atherosclerosis
- Manage weight - a healthy weight range needs to be maintained to help avoid a number of adverse health issues, such as atherosclerosis. Men need to ensure their weight measurement is less than 94cm and women less than 80cm
- Stop smoking - people who smoke are at high risk of developing adverse health effects, including heart disease such as atherosclerosis. People who smoke must give it up to reduce risk of heart disease
Advertisement
Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
Related Articles
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
