Atherosclerosis is often referred to as “hardening of the arteries”. Arteries are affected by inflammation, genetic factors, and diet, which can lead to hardened arteries. There are many health risks associated with atherosclerosis, including aneurysm, stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, and kidney failure.
Arteries can show signs of atherosclerosis in your early 20’s and 30’s. It is a disease that takes years to develop and often goes unnoticed until life-threatening symptoms are experienced. Diagnosis is usually made after a vascular event, such as a stroke or heart attack. Many things can lead to hardening of the arteries. It is a progressive disease which cannot be cured. However, altering the things that lead to the hardening can help to protect you from some of the health risks associated with atherosclerosis and help you to live a longer, healthier life.
Work with your doctor on a treatment program that is right for you. Try to pinpoint the things in your life that have lead you to this disease. If you can change a few things in your lifestyle and daily routine, you could protect yourself for a long time. Understanding how each change affects your arteries is important. Having an understanding of what exactly is going on will help you to adhere to the best routine for yourself. Someone simply telling you to exercise and watch your diet isn’t likely to instill any real desire to change your daily habits.
There are a few common factors that lead to atherosclerosis. Diabetes is one of those common factors. Sugar travels through your veins leaving tiny tears along the way. If you’re diabetic, your body will not clear out the sugar fast enough to prevent artery damage. Your body uses vitamin C in your liver to produce collagen and elastin, which repairs the tears with a stretchy, elastic patch. If you do not have enough vitamin C in your blood to produce collagen and elastin, your body will use cholesterol to create a hard, rigid patch. This is how diabetes leads to hardened arteries.
High cholesterol can have the same effect. If your body has a lot of cholesterol, then it is inflamed. Inflammation is known to be one of the biggest contributors of atherosclerosis. When there is inflammation present, your immune system is on high-alert, in panic-mode. If your immune system is over-reacting to the inflammation, it will quickly use cholesterol to repair tendons, organs, and arteries instead of waiting around for collagen and elastin to be formed. It will force your body to pack fat around your organs to protect them from the inflammation, putting you at a high risk for diabetes.
Keeping your vitamin C levels high enough to handle the sugar and cholesterol in your body can help you to fight back against your body working against you. Vitamin C is essential for controlling inflammation on a daily basis while regulating the immune system so that your arteries have a fighting chance.
Talk with your doctor about starting a vitamins and supplements routine to control the factors that have lead to your atherosclerosis. Discount vitamins and wholesale supplements can help you to save money while treating the underlying conditions that have caused your arteries to harden.
“Part 2” of the series “What is causing my Arteries to Harden?” will focus on other factors that can lead to hardening of the arteries and how you can fight back. Wholesale vitamins and supplements are a cost effective way to help you live a longer and healthier life with atherosclerosis. Learn how.
About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people maintain good health with wholesale vitamins and supplements. Wholesale Nutrition has provided the world with the best discount vitamins and wholesale supplements since 1970. Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy high-quality, low-cost discount supplements today!
