The most common causes of atherosclerosisUntil now, the real causes of atherosclerosis are not yet discovered by the scientists. On the other hand, recent researches indicated that atherosclerosis occurs due to a slow and progressive process which starts in the early years of life, though it develops rapider as we increase in age. Atherosclerosis is initiated by specific factors which causes injury of the endothelial lining of the arteries. Some individuals are at high risk of developing atherosclerosis. If you are one of the following people, take care: • Smoker • Hypertensive • Diabetic • Having high total cholesterol levels in your blood
Your body will start a healing process when injury occurs due to causes of atherosclerosis. This healing process is enhanced by substances secreted by fat tissues, causing plaques (fatty deposits) to precipitate and accumulate in the area where the arteries are injured. After a while, the plaque will break into small fragments. Blood platelets (blood cells responsible for healing of wounds) will cluster together forming blood clots in the areas where plaque breaks. These clots narrow the diameter of arteries, besides causing the arteries to be less flexible. And here we have this serious condition, which is known as atherosclerosis disease . Tobacco smoking enhances all causes of atherosclerosis. The toxic waste products from tobacco reduce HDL “good” cholesterol levels, and at the same time increase LDL “bad” cholesterol levels in your blood. Whenever you smoke, lethal chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and formaldehyde are released in your blood; these materials injury the inner layer of your arteries, thus facilitate accumulation of plaque. Cigarette smoking by itself doesn’t cause hypertension (elevated blood pressure). But if you are already a hypertensive patient, smoking will certainly aggravate your condition. Smoking probably will raise your susceptibility to develop malignant hypertension; this is a very serious life-threatening form of high blood pressure. Keep in mind that all smokers are at high risk of having atherosclerosis, sudden heart attack and even strokes. The good news is that it is never too late to stop smoking. All clinical studies have proved that once you quit smoking, your body will start a complete recovery process in less than half an hour despite of your age or for how long you had been smoking. After your first year of quitting smoking, your high risk to develop a heart disease or a stroke will drop by 50 %.< /p> Unfortunately, hypertension is one of the most common causes of atherosclerosis. High blood pressure exerts extra forces directed towards the inner layer of the arterial walls. Sooner or later, these added pressures will injury the arterial walls causing them to be more susceptible to plague accumulation and subsequently development of atherosclerosis. Other studies have revealed that diabetes derive inflammation to blood vessels, besides it slow down the blood circulation, thus accelerate development of atherosclerosis. Diabetes doubles the risk of having stroke or heart diseases. High blood glucose enhances formation of some reactive free radicals which damage the cellular lining of blood vessels. These reactive molecules also decrease the production of nitric oxide which helps in relaxation of blood vessel, as well as increasing blood flow. To get to know how high cholesterol can lead to atherosclerotic plaque formation, click here. Related topics:
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