Blockage of the arteries is one of the most common health problems around. Blockage of the arteries is responsible for many serious conditions such as heart attack or stroke and plays a role in a myriad of minor ones such as fatigue, shortness of breath, edema, and poor memory.

The cause

If is obvious that in order for there to be an blockage, or partial blockage, there must be an obstruction. In the case of blockage of the arteries that obstruction comes in the form of arterial plaque.

Generally arterial plaque takes years to build, perhaps starting in teen or preteen years and building over many, many years. With the average age of a heart attack due to blockage of the arteries being around 60, you can see that a person experiencing total blockage resulting in a heart attack may have been accumulating tiny bits of plaque for 50 years before a major cardiovascular concern occurred.

What is plaque?

Plaque deposits are made up of cholesterol, dead cells, fibrous tissue, and calcium amongst other things. In other words anything that might be floating in your blood stream.

But the thing about plaque deposits is they need help to get started, which comes in the form of substances that damage the smooth interior lining of the arteries making them rough and jagged.

Possible culprits

Bad cholesterol (LDL) damages the lining of the arteries. Additionally, hostile amino acids known as homocysteines, which are released when high protein foods are digested are thought to play a role. Triglycerides, which are early stage blood fats acquired primarily from fatty foods can contribute to arterial plaque a well. There are other possibilities as well but these three are generally considered to be the most prevalent.

Once blockage of the arteries occurs starts to occur can it be reversed?

Most believe the answer is yes. Certainly some people with blockage of the arteries will have a steeper hill to climb than others. For example those who are obese, smoke, or have a genetic disorder that flood the blood stream with lipids (fats). A couple of examples of genetic disorders would be hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia which are normally treated with prescription medications such as statins.

Nevertheless, despite the challenges there is great deal that can be done. Keep in mind that bad cholesterol (LDL) is the primary fuel needed to build arterial plaque. So our first step will need to be to reduce cholesterol intake from foods.

According to the American Heart Association in order to reverse blockage of the arteries, no more than 7 percent (16 grams) of calories should come for saturated fat and no more 25 percent total fat. What this really means is less red meat along with more fruits, vegetables, and soluble fiber foods (oat bran, whole grains).

Next is to neutralize any dangerous homocysteines that might be floating around in the bloodstream by eating foods rich in folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Good sources for these vitamins would be kale, turnip greens, beans, and fish.

Triglycerides are also another concern with the best formula for reducing them seemingly to be to eat a low saturated fat diet with moderate amounts of polyunsaturated fats such as omega 3 fatty acids. Cold water fatty fish is the richest source of omega 3. Other sources include walnuts and flax seeds.

And lastly when diet alone is simply not enough moderate exercise combined with a natural cholesterol reduction supplement can provide that extra help needed to send high cholesterol, arterial plaque, and blockage of the arteries packing once and for all.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field.To learn more about cholesterol, along with safe and effective natural remedies for managing problemathigh cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides Click Here

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Signs of blocked arteries are all around us virtually all the time. Most with mild signs of blocked arteries probably don’t recognize that there could be a larger problem looming if proactive steps aren’t taken to reverse the condition. Occasionally, when signs of blockage become more serious people ignore them choosing not to take action for a myriad of reasons both personal and private. In this article we will talk a little about what actually causes the blockage to occur in the first place and then get right into the signs of blocked arteries that everyone should be aware of.

The cause

Arteries are tube like. They have the ability to expand and contract, carry life giving blood and oxygen to every cell in our bodies. The inner lining of these life giving tubes is smooth allowing blood, cholesterol, white blood cells, and an number of other substances to flow freely through our bodies without incident. But when the arterial lining becomes damaged, from such things as high levels of cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, or homocysteine amino acids a series of events are started in motion.

The first is the body recognizing that there has been damage and dispatching white blood cells to patch up the problem. The patch will be made up of a foam like substance consisting mainly of cholesterol. But what happens over time is that this path tends to attract additional cholesterol, dead cells, blood stream trash, and in the latter stages calcium. If allowed to go unchecked this deposit will eventually grow to a point where blood flow is reduced and hardening starts to take place due to the calcium. The obstruction is known as a plaque deposit and once it has produced 70 percent blockage signs will often start to be seen. Additionally, part of this plaque deposit could break off, lodging in a smaller vein or artery producing an embolism.

The signs

Where the blockage occurs will determine the signs. If the plaque deposit is reducing blood flow to the heart a tightness in the middle of the chest will be felt. This is known in medical terms as angina and those in denial will often simply write it off to a bad case of indigestion. Complicating the situation is that if the blockage is not too severe the chest tightness and/or pain will go away once they get home, get comfortable, and relax. If the pain fails to go away when at rest this is one of worst signs of blocked arteries and signals trouble ahead (a heart attack) and means the blockage may have reached 90 percent or more.

If the blockage is in the arteries supplying blood to the brain symptoms such as numbness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, blindness, mental disorientation, or paralysis can occur.

What can be done?

Certainly, if you notice any of the signs of blocked arteries you should talk with your doctor as soon as possible. He will likely run some tests and recommend that you change the way you eat, reduce stress levels, avoid tobacco smoke, encourage you to lose any excess weight, participate in moderate exercise program five or more days a week, and suggest a cholesterol lowering prescription medication or natural cholesterol reduction supplement if needed.

It should also be pointed out that if tests confirm major blockage surgery may be required to insert a stint to restore blood flow through the damaged artery.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at Purchase Remedies.com

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