| Hardening of the arteries is one of those tricky | | | | prescribed omega 3 fatty acids or L-arginine as |
| conditions where symptoms often appear only | | | | well. |
| after serious damage has been done. Another | | | | *Monitor blood glucose levels closely: If blood |
| caveat is that unhealthy habits dating back many | | | | glucose levels are high artery clogging cholesterol |
| years may have contributed to hardening of the | | | | levels likely are high as well. There may also be |
| arteries. So learning more about the condition itself | | | | damage occurring to the interior lining of the |
| and finding out what prevents hardening of the | | | | arteries. Keeping blood glucose levels and |
| arteries just might give you the tools you need to | | | | glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) under control is |
| formulate a heart and artery health plan to avoid | | | | another important puzzle piece in what prevents |
| this potentially serious condition. | | | | hardening of the arteries. |
| Hardening of the arteries is best described as a | | | | *Keep blood cholesterol in a healthy range: LDL |
| disease in which deposits of fat, dead cells, and | | | | cholesterol levels should be maintained at 115 |
| calcium accumulate in and on the inner walls of | | | | milligrams per deciliter of blood or less. To |
| the arteries. As these cholesterol laden fat | | | | accomplish this a diet low in saturated fat and |
| deposits start to build two serious problems start | | | | cholesterol, high in soluble fiber foods such as |
| to emerge. First, blood flow is reduced to vital | | | | fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is considered |
| areas of the body including the heart and second | | | | to be the conventional wisdom. Additionally, a |
| the integrity of the arteries themselves start to | | | | natural cholesterol reduction supplement may be |
| be compromised as they lose their elasticity, | | | | need for some who feel they need that little |
| strength, and flexibility. | | | | extra bit of help to reach their cholesterol level |
| Most experts now believe that hardening of the | | | | goals. |
| arteries is triggered when the smooth interior lining | | | | *Don't smoke: Smoking is on the rise is the East |
| of the arterial wall is damaged. What prevents | | | | and on the decline in the West. Hardening of the |
| hardening of the arteries is directly related to | | | | arteries is on the rise in the East and has shown a |
| avoiding both arterial scuffing and fat deposits | | | | decline in the West. This is in spite of an eastern |
| (arterial plaque) accumulating on the interior of the | | | | style diet generally being consider to be more |
| artery walls. Why don't we take a few minutes to | | | | heart and artery healthy than the western high |
| walk through five ways to reduce the risk of | | | | fat, meat and potatoes, or fast food diets. The |
| hardening of the arteries. | | | | statistics support the idea that giving up smoking |
| *Homocysteine: A homocysteine is a potentially | | | | is vital to maintaining heart and artery health. |
| hostile amino acid that is released when protein | | | | *Stay active: When discussing what prevents |
| foods are digested. Research shows that there is | | | | hardening of the arteries we couldn't leave out |
| a direct link between high homocysteine levels and | | | | inactivity. Inactivity is the leading cause of high |
| heart and artery disease. The current assertion is | | | | cholesterol according to the CDC. The American |
| that homocysteine amino acids chew up cells in | | | | Heart Association recommends a doctor |
| the lining of your blood vessels, encourage blood | | | | approved exercise routine consisting of five or |
| clots, and produce plaque deposits that block the | | | | more days a week, lasting for at least 30 |
| arteries. What prevents hardening of the arteries | | | | minutes. But most medical professionals agree |
| as it relates to homocysteine are B vitamins; | | | | that if you are inactive even 10 minutes a day |
| specifically folic acid, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12. | | | | can make a big difference in overall health. |
| In specific situations some patients may be | | | | |