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- 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
Research shows that more people may have atherosclerosis and that it may actually start in childhood, so managing and preventing worsening of symptoms and serious complications is vital to be able to have a good quality of life.
There are a number of strategies that may be useful for people who have been diagnosed with atherosclerosis:
- Add more fibre to the diet - adequate amounts of fibre (about 30 grams per day) are required in the diet to help ensure that the digestive system is healthy and to help reduce levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the blood, which may help reduce the amount of plaque build-up in the arteries
- Don't smoke or be around smokers - smoking cigarettes can damage the artery walls and lead to atherosclerosis. In addition to this, smoking depletes the body of the antioxidants, especially vitamin C, which is required to ensure the artery walls are strong and healthy. Not only should you not smoke, but you should also not be around other people who smoke, as their smoke has exactly the same effect on your arteries
- Eat more fruit - you need to make sure you eat at least 2-3 portions of fruit every day, ensuring that you have at least a few servings of cherries and berries each week. Fruit contains a number of vitamins and minerals and the cherries and berries contain the potent antioxidants anthocyanadins, which may be useful in preventing oxidative damage to the artery walls, plus the fruit helps to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides levels
- Eat more vegetables - you need to ensue that you have at least 5-7 portions of vegetables every day, with at least 1-2 of those portions being leafy green vegetables, which are packed full of folic acid, fibre, vitamins and minerals. The folic acid may help to reduce homocysteine levels which is implicated in atherosclerosis, plus the vegetables help to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides levels
- Exercise regularly - in order to help condition the heart and improve circulation, a regular exercise program is required. Your doctor will advise you on the type of exercises you may be able to engage in, depending on your condition and the severity of your symptoms. If you can exercise, you should try to do so for at least 30-45 minutes every day (but only with your doctor's approval) because some arrhythmia may be brought about by exercise
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- Limit alcohol - alcohol puts a lot of stress on the arteries and the heart and is implicated in the worsening of atherosclerosis. Women should have no more than one drink and men should have no more than two drinks per day, with at least two days of the week being alcohol free
- More oily fish in the diet - you need to make sure you eat at least two portions of oily fish each week, to increase your intake of the omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and are vital for heart health. The best types of oily fish are: mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna and should be wild and fresh (canned fish should be eaten less regularly)
- Reduce stress - prolonged amounts of stress can increase the amount of the stress hormone cortisol, which creates a great deal of inflammation everywhere in the body and it can also damage the artery walls and the heart. Reducing stress is vital to ensuring better heart, artery and cardiovascular health. There are a number of excellent stress-reduction strategies: dancing, having a bath, meditation, tai chi, visualisation, yoga
- Regular doctor visits - you need to see your doctor on a regular basis, in order to monitor your symptoms, the progression of your condition and to adjust medications (if you are getting any side effects). You can also ask your doctor's advice about any supplements you want to take in addition to your medications (if you are taking any) to make sure that it is safe to do so. Your doctor may request regular blood tests to monitor your cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure levels as part of the monitoring of your condition
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< 10: alternative treatment 12: caregiving > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
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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.
