Healthy arteries are flexible and elastic, but over time, the walls of arteries can harden, causing a condition known as arteriosclerosis, which is a condition in which the blood vessels (arteries) that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body (restrain blood flow to organs and tissues).
Symptoms
Mild atherosclerosis typically exhibits no symptoms and progresses slowly.
Depending on which arteries are affected, atherosclerosis symptoms can range from mild to severe. For instance:
- If there is atherosclerosis in the heart arteries,Angina (chest pressure or pain) symptoms can appear.
- If there is atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to brain,A transient ischemic attack (TIA), which may lead to a stroke if left untreated, is characterized by sudden numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, temporary loss of vision in one eye, or drooping facial muscles.
- If there is atherosclerosis in the arteries in arms and legs,Walking-related leg pain (claudication) is one of the signs of peripheral artery disease.
- If there is atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to the kidneys,develop hypertension or kidney damage.
Causes
Although the exact cause of atherosclerosis is unknown, the disease may begin with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery.
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Having high blood lipids (fats) called triglycerides
- Using tobacco products other than smoking
- obesity, diabetes, or insulin resistance
- diseases like arthritis, lupus, infections, or unidentified sources of inflammation
Risk factors
Atherosclerosis is a gradual hardening of the arteries that is caused by a number of factors, besides aging, such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- tobacco use, including smoking
- early heart disease in the family history
- Lack of exercise
- An unhealthy diet
Complications
Which arteries are blocked determines the atherosclerosis complications, for instance:
Coronary artery disease.Angina (chest pain), a heart attack, or heart failure can occur when atherosclerosis narrows the arteries near the heart.
Carotid artery disease.Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke can occur when carotid artery disease develops as a result of atherosclerosis narrowing the arteries near the brain.
Peripheral artery disease.Peripheral artery disease, which is caused when atherosclerosis narrows the arteries in the arms or legs, can cause circulation issues in those areas, making you more susceptible to frostbite and burns, as well as tissue death (gangrene), in rare instances.
Aneurysms.The serious complication of aneurysms, which is a bulge in the artery wall, can also be brought on by atherosclerosis and can happen anywhere in the body.
Aneurysms typically do not cause any symptoms, but they can cause pain and throbbing, which is a medical emergency.
Although an aneurysm rupture is typically a sudden, catastrophic event, a slow leak is possible. If a blood clot within an aneurysm dislodges, it may block an artery at some distant point. If an aneurysm ruptures, the patient may experience life-threatening internal bleeding.
Chronic kidney disease.As a result of atherosclerosis, the arteries to the kidneys may become constricted and less able to receive oxygenated blood over time, impairing kidney function and preventing the body from excreting waste.
Prevention
In order to prevent atherosclerosis, one should adopt the same healthy lifestyle changes that are advised for its treatment.
- Quitting smoking
- Eating healthy foods
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Baryta Mur– hypertension and vascular deterioration; arteriosclerosis, which is characterized by long-lasting narrowing of the cardiac orifice accompanied by pain right after eating and high systolic pressure with relatively low diastolic pressure;
Arnica MontanaExcellent treatment for cerebral arteriosclerosis; high risk of hemorrhaging; effective in plethora; weak in the elderly; relaxed bold vessel with blue and black spots; thrombosis; sore, lame, and bruised feeling; limbs and body aches as if struck;
Aurum met– well-known homeopathic remedy for arteriosclerosis; rapid, feeble, irregular heartbeat; high blood pressure; valvular lesions of an arterio sclerotic nature; marked palpitation; feeling as if the heart stopped beating for two to three seconds, followed by a sinking sensation in the epigastrium; and heart hypertrophy.
ErgotinStiffening and degeneration of arterial walls, spasmodic contraction of the vessels with hardening are signs of early arteriosclerosis and are effective treatments.
Spigelia– an exceptional treatment for heart inflammation that affects both the inner and outer lining of the heart, alcoholic mitral valve disease, heart pain, wooziness, noises in the head, excessive nervousness, throat choking, inability to fall asleep soundly, etc.
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