The coronary systemis one of the most important parts of the body and when it is not taken care of properly, several unhealthy conditions can arise like hardening of the arteries. Medically, it’s referred to as arteriosclerosis and often appears along with high blood pressure.
The arteries transport O2 and nutrients from the heart to the other parts of the body. Over time, fat deposits can build up in the arteries and harden which then reduces the supply of blood to the organs. When this is not properly handled, the arteries can be come blocked,or worse, the plaque can break free into the blood stream causing heart attacks or stroke.
There are several factors that are associated with hardening of the arteries which are categorized into modifiable and non-modifiable. The non-modifiable factors are those which you can’t change such as hereditary factors, advancing age, gender (males have a higher risk) and race. The modifiable factors are the ones that you can manage which include cigarette smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, eating a diet that is high in saturated fat, high blood pressure, diabetes and high LDL cholesterol levels.
The indicators and symptoms of hardening of the arteries depend on the location of the affected arteries. If it is happening in the arteries that supply the heart, you might experience chest pain, profuse sweating, shortness of breath and anxiety. Arteries that supply blood to the brain when affected will be manifested through numbness or weakness, paralysis typically in one half of the body, loss of speech, blindness and difficulty when swallowing. For the ones that supply the legs, severe leg pain will develop while you walk but disappear when you stop. Kidney failure and high blood pressure are the signs when the arteries affected supply the kidneys.
As to this date, there is no medically recognized cure for hardening of the arteries but the symptoms can be treated with anti-hypertensives, cholesterol decreasing medicines, diuretics and medications to control the chest pain. To re-open the artery when it is blocked, angioplasty is generally performed.
Even if there are non-modifiable factors for hardening of the arteries, you can do a lot to help decrease your risks. Life style changes are warranted and included smoking cessation, choosing a balanced diet that is low in fat and LDL cholesterol, getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Hardening of the arteries is a serious cardio vascular disorder so while you can, you have to prevent it.