Can you unclog your arteries?

By
Sharp Grossmont Hospital Health News Team
-
WEBPRIME.jpg

In our younger years, we may feel invincible—eating what we want, staying out all-night and enjoying every moment life has to offer. As we age, we start noticing the side effects of a once-carefree lifestyle—an ache here, a few pounds there. But what about the toll on our bodies that we can’t always see or feel? 

In our younger years, we may feel invincible—eating what we want, staying out all-night and enjoying every moment life has to offer. As we age, we start noticing the side effects of a once-carefree lifestyle—an ache here, a few pounds there. But what about the toll on our bodies that we can’t always see or feel? 

Take for instance plaque buildup in our arteries, also known as atherosclerosis. The accumulation of these fatty substances can be due to certain lifestyle habits, genetics and other factors. Over time, plaque buildup can reduce oxygen and blood flow to organs, and increase your risk for serious vascular conditions.  

Plaque formation

So are there ways to reclaim hardened arteries from years of buildup, and restore their elastic, open pathways? 

First, let’s understand how plaque forms. It begins when cholesterol and other substances stick to artery walls. In response, white blood cells try to trap cholesterol, which causes it to morph into foamy, fatty cells. This triggers muscle cells to form a fibrous “cap” over these diseased portions of the artery, creating plaque. Plaques can rupture and cause changes in blood flow or obstruction of the blood vessels, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

Unclogging arteries

There are different approaches to removing or reducing plaque buildup. 

“One way to address years of plaque buildup is with healthy lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, exercise and a heart-healthy balanced diet,” says Dr. Patrick Cook, a vascular surgeon affiliated with Sharp Grossmont Hospital. “Medicines, such as statins, are also beneficial as they decrease cholesterol production, and may be prescribed to reduce atherosclerosis and reduce inflammation in the blood vessels.” 

Doctors use different types of procedures to keep plaque under control. For example, surgeons can insert balloons and stents—a short narrow metal or plastic tube—into narrowed blood vessels to increase blood flow and stabilize plaques so that they do not break open. There is also bypass surgery, in which a surgeon uses a vein or prosthetic tube to go around the diseased artery segment, and connect it to good arteries above and below the blockage.  

A healthy lifestyle

Aside from medical and surgical interventions, what else can you do to get rid of plaque? 

“There is limited evidence that eating a certain type of food, herb or other folk remedies will reduce or make the plaque that already exists in your arteries disappear. However, practicing a healthy lifestyle can keep additional plaque from forming,” says Dr. Cook.

Here are some healthy lifestyle tips to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis: 

Do not smoke.

Smoking can damage blood vessels, increasing one’s risk of atherosclerosis. 

Exercise regularly.

Incorporate daily physical activity in your life. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly, or a combination of both. Examples of moderate exercise are brisk walking or gardening. Vigorous exercise includes aerobics, hiking uphill, running and other activities that increase your breathing and heart rate. 

Eat a healthy diet.

Follow a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Keep meat, dairy, sugar, refined grains, salt and saturated fats to a minimum, as these have been known to damage blood vessel cells over time. 

There are different types of heart-healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish, and low in red or processed meats and dairy. Some studies also point to the cardiovascular benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. According to some researchers, plant-based diets may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by increasing certain components in the body, such as antioxidants, which protect blood vessels. 

This article features experts from Sharp Grossmont Hospital. For more health stories visit www.sharp.com/news.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

104 COMMENTS

  13. I wanted to post you one very
    I wanted to post you one very little note just to thank you so much as before for the pretty information you
    have shared in this case. It has been certainly wonderfully open-handed with people like you to
    allow easily exactly what numerous people would’ve marketed as an electronic book to earn some dough for themselves, certainly since
    you might well have done it in the event you wanted.
    These basics as well served to be a easy way to be certain that most people have the same
    fervor just as my personal own to see a lot more related to
    this issue. I’m sure there are lots of more pleasant
    situations ahead for those who examine your blog. https://cajfm.net/wiki/index.php/Get_Hair_Loss_Under_Control_With_Natural_Oil_Massage

  14. I wanted to post you one very
    I wanted to post you one very little note just to thank you so
    much as before for the pretty information you have
    shared in this case. It has been certainly wonderfully open-handed with people like you to allow easily exactly what numerous people would’ve marketed as an electronic book to earn some dough for themselves,
    certainly since you might well have done it in the event you wanted.

    These basics as well served to be a easy way to be certain that most people have the same fervor just as my
    personal own to see a lot more related to this
    issue. I’m sure there are lots of more pleasant situations ahead for those who examine your blog. https://cajfm.net/wiki/index.php/Get_Hair_Loss_Under_Control_With_Natural_Oil_Massage

  33. I simply wanted to thank you
    I simply wanted to thank you yet again for that amazing blog you have
    created here. It can be full of ideas for those who are definitely
    interested in this specific subject, especially this very post.
    Your all so sweet and also thoughtful of others as well as reading your site posts is a wonderful delight if you ask me.
    And that of a generous reward! Tom and I will certainly have excitement making use of
    your tips in what we must do next week. Our
    listing is a kilometer long and tips might be put to fine
    use. http://www.arewacloud.com/index.php/blog/35317/try-this-home-remedy-for-making-your-penis-harder-turn-it-into-a-steel-rod/

  34. I simply wanted to thank you
    I simply wanted to thank you yet again for that amazing blog you have created here.

    It can be full of ideas for those who are definitely interested in this specific subject, especially this
    very post. Your all so sweet and also thoughtful of others as well as reading your site posts is a wonderful delight if you ask me.

    And that of a generous reward! Tom and I will certainly have
    excitement making use of your tips in what we must do next week.

    Our listing is a kilometer long and tips might be put to fine use. http://www.arewacloud.com/index.php/blog/35317/try-this-home-remedy-for-making-your-penis-harder-turn-it-into-a-steel-rod/

  50. Write more, thats all I have
    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though
    you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste
    your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you
    could be giving us something enlightening to read? http://ns2.ictmax.com.ar/?a%5B%5D=%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fmediawiki.damahub.org%2Findex.php%2FBuilding_Muscle_Tissue_For_The_Mesomorph_Body_Type%3ECBD+FX%3C%2Fa%3E

  51. Write more, thats all I have
    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as
    though you relied on the video to make your point.

    You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your
    intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read? http://ns2.ictmax.com.ar/?a%5B%5D=%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fmediawiki.damahub.org%2Findex.php%2FBuilding_Muscle_Tissue_For_The_Mesomorph_Body_Type%3ECBD+FX%3C%2Fa%3E

  58. I together with my friends
    I together with my friends have already been checking out the best secrets and techniques from your web blog and all of
    a sudden I had a horrible suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for those strategies.

    The people happened to be so happy to see them
    and have in effect very much been enjoying them.
    We appreciate you actually being well thoughtful and for selecting these kinds of marvelous
    things most people are really wanting to understand about.
    My honest regret for not expressing appreciation to sooner. http://wikipaint.net/index.php?title=Natural_Herbs_For_Decline_-_Can_Herbs_Help_Much_You_Bodyweight

  59. I together with my friends
    I together with my friends have already been checking out the
    best secrets and techniques from your web blog and all of a
    sudden I had a horrible suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for those strategies.
    The people happened to be so happy to see them and
    have in effect very much been enjoying them.

    We appreciate you actually being well thoughtful and for selecting
    these kinds of marvelous things most people are really
    wanting to understand about. My honest regret for not expressing appreciation to sooner. http://wikipaint.net/index.php?title=Natural_Herbs_For_Decline_-_Can_Herbs_Help_Much_You_Bodyweight

  70. Someone essentially help to
    Someone essentially help to make significantly posts
    I would state. That is the very first time I frequented your
    website page and to this point? I amazed with the analysis you made to make
    this particular submit incredible. Magnificent process! http://opac.bas-net.by/opacpage/phpinfo.php?a%5B%5D=%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fpciapp.cloudapp.net%2Fgpath%2Findex.php%2FWinter_Makeup_And_Skin_Care%3ENew+Age+Skin+Serum+Reviews%3C%2Fa%3E

  71. Someone essentially help to
    Someone essentially help to make significantly posts I
    would state. That is the very first time I frequented your website page and to this point?
    I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular submit incredible.
    Magnificent process! http://opac.bas-net.by/opacpage/phpinfo.php?a%5B%5D=%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fpciapp.cloudapp.net%2Fgpath%2Findex.php%2FWinter_Makeup_And_Skin_Care%3ENew+Age+Skin+Serum+Reviews%3C%2Fa%3E

  80. Hello this is kind of of off
    Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have
    to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have
    no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated! http://ll.my/cbdfxoil8837

  81. Hello this is kind of of off
    Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if
    blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.

    I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get
    advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly
    appreciated! http://ll.my/cbdfxoil8837

  86. I and also my buddies were
    I and also my buddies were going through the best procedures
    found on your web page and so quickly I got a horrible feeling
    I never expressed respect to the website owner for those strategies.
    Most of the ladies appeared to be as a consequence excited
    to read them and have now surely been loving these things.
    Many thanks for indeed being well thoughtful as well as
    for deciding upon variety of great themes millions of individuals are really
    desirous to be aware of. Our own sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to you earlier. http://www.nccu.edu/leaving.cfm?destination=https://bestnewsupplements.com/weight-loss/santege-garcinia-diet-review/

  87. I and also my buddies were
    I and also my buddies were going through the best procedures found on your
    web page and so quickly I got a horrible feeling I never expressed respect to the
    website owner for those strategies. Most of the ladies appeared to be as
    a consequence excited to read them and have now surely been loving these things.

    Many thanks for indeed being well thoughtful as well as for deciding upon variety of great themes millions of individuals
    are really desirous to be aware of. Our own sincere apologies for not expressing
    gratitude to you earlier. http://www.nccu.edu/leaving.cfm?destination=https://bestnewsupplements.com/weight-loss/santege-garcinia-diet-review/

  88. Thanks so much for giving me
    Thanks so much for giving me personally an update on this subject
    on your website. Please be aware that if a new post becomes available or if
    any alterations occur on the current write-up, I would be
    considering reading more and focusing on how to make good use of those tactics you write
    about. Thanks for your efforts and consideration of other individuals by making this
    site available. http://nemoadministrativerecord.com/UserProfile/tabid/57/userId/3287397/Default.aspx

  89. Thanks so much for giving me
    Thanks so much for giving me personally an update on this
    subject on your website. Please be aware that if a new post
    becomes available or if any alterations occur on the current write-up, I would be considering reading more and focusing on how to make good use of those tactics you write
    about. Thanks for your efforts and consideration of
    other individuals by making this site available. http://nemoadministrativerecord.com/UserProfile/tabid/57/userId/3287397/Default.aspx

  101. hey there and thank you for
    hey there and thank you for your info ? I have certainly picked up
    something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using
    this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots
    of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality
    score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.
    Ensure that you update this again very soon.. http://www.codiscosaudio.com/UserProfile/tabid/43/UserID/1195438/Default.aspx

  102. hey there and thank you for
    hey there and thank you for your info ? I have certainly picked up something new from right here.
    I did however expertise several technical points using this web site, as I experienced to reload the web
    site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly.
    I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google
    and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing
    with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out
    for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.
    Ensure that you update this again very soon.. http://www.codiscosaudio.com/UserProfile/tabid/43/UserID/1195438/Default.aspx

Comments are closed.