Clogged Arteries (Arterial Plaque)

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Something I was thinking about and decided to see what folks need to do lessen the build.

 

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As plaque deposits grow, a condition called atherosclerosis results. This condition causes the arteries to narrow and harden.

Although experts don’t know for sure what starts atherosclerosis, the process seems to stem from damage to the lining of the arterial wall. This damage, which enables the deposition of plaque, may result from:

Each artery is a muscular tube lined by smooth tissue and has three layers: the intima, the media, and the adventitia.The largest artery is the aorta, which branches into a network of smaller arteries that extend throughout the body. The arteries' smaller branches are called arterioles and capillaries.

• High ''bad'' cholesterol and low ''good'' cholesterol. High levels of ''bad'' cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), are major contributors to arterial plaque formation. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Everyone also has ''good'' cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL), circulating in the blood. HDL is believed to remove some of the bad cholesterol from plaque in clogged arteries and transport it back to the liver, where it is eliminated.
• High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure increases the rate at which arterial plaque builds up. It also hastens the hardening of clogged arteries.
• Cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke seems to increase the rate of atherosclerosis in the arteries of the heart, legs, and the aorta -- the largest artery in the body.
• Diabetes, or elevated circulating blood sugar, is also a major culprit. Even people who have elevated sugars not yet at the level of diabetes, such as seen in metabolic syndrome, also have increased risk of plaque formation.
• Other risk factors include family history, stress, sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Knowing your family history is critical.

Plaque often starts to develop during the childhood or teenage years. Then clogged arteries develop in middle age or later.

There are a variety of prevention and treatment options for clogged arteries. What your doctor prescribes to reduce arterial plaque and prevent clogged arteries will depend on the severity of your condition and your medical history. Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following:

 

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1. Lifestyle changes. A healthy lifestyle is essential for the management of arterial plaque and treatment of clogged arteries. This includes:

• Eating a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, with less sugars and simple carbohydrates, and rich in fruits and vegetables
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Not smoking
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress levels
• Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol down
• Maintaining low blood sugars

 

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2. Surgical or interventional procedures.In some instances, surgery may be necessary to treat clogged arteries and prevent additional arterial plaque accumulation. These procedures may include:

• Stent placement. A small tube called a stent, which may contain medication, can be placed in an artery to maintain adequate blood flow. A catheter is used through the artery of the leg to reach the heart, and a stent is put in place through the catheter in the area of the blockage.
• Bypass surgery. In this operation, arteries from other parts of the body are moved to bypass clogged arteries and help oxygen-rich blood reach its target destination.
• Balloon angioplasty. This procedure helps open clogged arteries that have become partially or fully blocked by opening up the blockage with a device that pushes the plaque to the side walls of the arteries.

 

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3. Medications. A number of medications may help control some of the factors that contribute to the accumulation of arterial plaque. These include:

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Blood pressure-lowering drugs
• Aspirin and other blood-thinning drugs, which reduce the likelihood of dangerous blood clot formation