Cardiovascular disorders
What happens in the body?
In atherosclerosis, the blood vessels leading away from the heart, the arteries, are narrowed by the deposition of blood fats and clots, lime and connective tissue. These slowly progressing deposits on the inner walls are called plaques. The vessel walls thicken and lose elasticity, the innermost layer of tissue is injured, the blood flows worse. Through the vascular occlusions, there is a permanent lack of blood circulation of tissue. Atherosclerosis can begin as a child and affect all regions. The most common sequelae are cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. The causes are still being researched, but the lipid theory is widely accepted. After that, a certain fat (= lipid), the LDL cholesterol, triggers arteriosclerosis. This "bad cholesterol"? Forms in the liver and later settles in the vessels of other organs. There it combines with the also stored white blood cells to so-called foam cells, which in turn cause an inflammatory reaction in the vessel wall. A complete vascular occlusion, a thrombosis, can lead to life-threatening functional failures.
How does that show?
Depending on which arteries are affected, the symptoms also vary. In the area of the heart, neck and pelvis, vascular constriction is most common. Chest constriction or left-sided chest pain indicates constricted coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease). In contrast, calcified carotid artery may cause facial paralysis, speech, swallowing, or vision problems, dizziness, numbness of the extremities, or headache. Severe muscle pain after short walking distances, the so-called peripheral arterial disease (PAOD), are due to narrowed pelvic and leg arteries. The circulation of the calf and thigh muscles is disturbed. In the worst case, the legs have to be amputated.
How can I prevent this?
To prevent vascular calcification, you should minimize risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, stress, diabetes mellitus and obesity. This is achieved primarily through regular, persevering exercise and a healthy, balanced diet. Instead of animal fats, you should take polyunsaturated vegetable fats and make sure you have enough fluids, vitamins and fiber. Their energy intake is optimally 50% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 30% fat. The risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age? where cardiovascular disease affects women later than men. In western industrial nations, more people are dying from atherosclerosis and its sequelae than from cancer.
Here you will find more information on the precautionary check.
Here's how it works: Here you learned how to measure your blood pressure.
What can I do if I already have it?
Even if you already have cardiovascular problems, you can improve the course of arteriosclerosis through the above prevention measures. In any case, be thoroughly examined by a doctor and, if necessary, with appropriate medication for cardiovascular disease. In the advanced stage, a catheter is often placed, so introduced a thin tube. In critical cases, there is a bypass operation in which a body diversion is built from the body's own veins.
