Treatment For Hardening of the Arteries - 5 Steps Worth Considering
The good news is that current treatment for hardening of the arteries and related diseases seems to be working.
This point is driven home by a new study revealing a one third decrease in the annual death rate from coronary artery disease, which of course is closely linked to hardening of the arteries.
While most health care professionals will have you believe that the improvement was primarily due to the use of prescription cholesterol lowering medications this is not what the numbers are telling us according to Dr.
Harindra C.
Wijeysundera who states that "risk factor changes appear to play an important role accounting for just under half the improvement despite increased availability of better treatments".
In my opinion this doesn't mean that prescription medications are not a valuable tool but rather an important part of a bigger treatment picture.
Treatment for hardening of arteries *Saying no to cigarettes: Cigarettes put toxins in your body and elevate LDL (bad) cholesterol and dangerous blood fats called triglycerides.
They also raise carbon monoxide levels in the blood which are thought to cause damage to the interior lining of the arteries, thus facilitating plaque accumulation.
Simply by quitting smoking and/or staying away from second hand smoke a person will have taken a giant step in the successful treatment of hardening of the arteries.
*Exercise, weight loss, and dietary changes: According to the American Heart Association you should strive to formulate an exercise plan with the help of your doctor involving activity five or more days a week.
Weight should be kept within 10 percent of a healthy range and a heart healthy diet should consist of less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat with baked fish being consumed twice a week.
*Fish oil: The days of long ago where cod liver oil left you with bad breath and the urge to belch are long gone with the new types of fish oil encapsulation available.
So if you haven't considered fish oil recently now would be a good time.
The latest research suggest that fish oil when taken in a dosage containing between 700 and 900 milligrams of the fatty acids DHA/EPA substantially reduces inflammation in the arteries (one of the primary triggers for hardening of the arteries).
One word of caution, while fish oil supplements are generally considered very safe they do act as a blood thinner and you should consult your doctor for dosage guidelines, especially if you are already on blood thinning medications, blood pressure medications, or taking daily dose aspirin.
*Managing high blood pressure and diabetes: Managing these two serious condition should be an important part of any treatment plan for hardening of the arteries.
* Natural cholesterol reduction supplements and prescription medications: Cholesterol molecules are the building blocks for the arterial plaque deposits that over time lead to hardening of the arteries.
By reducing the amount of cholesterol and other fats making their way through your arteries you will have taken away the fire that lights the flame for this disease.
Talk with your doctor to determine which of the above treatment options is right for you.
This point is driven home by a new study revealing a one third decrease in the annual death rate from coronary artery disease, which of course is closely linked to hardening of the arteries.
While most health care professionals will have you believe that the improvement was primarily due to the use of prescription cholesterol lowering medications this is not what the numbers are telling us according to Dr.
Harindra C.
Wijeysundera who states that "risk factor changes appear to play an important role accounting for just under half the improvement despite increased availability of better treatments".
In my opinion this doesn't mean that prescription medications are not a valuable tool but rather an important part of a bigger treatment picture.
Treatment for hardening of arteries *Saying no to cigarettes: Cigarettes put toxins in your body and elevate LDL (bad) cholesterol and dangerous blood fats called triglycerides.
They also raise carbon monoxide levels in the blood which are thought to cause damage to the interior lining of the arteries, thus facilitating plaque accumulation.
Simply by quitting smoking and/or staying away from second hand smoke a person will have taken a giant step in the successful treatment of hardening of the arteries.
*Exercise, weight loss, and dietary changes: According to the American Heart Association you should strive to formulate an exercise plan with the help of your doctor involving activity five or more days a week.
Weight should be kept within 10 percent of a healthy range and a heart healthy diet should consist of less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat with baked fish being consumed twice a week.
*Fish oil: The days of long ago where cod liver oil left you with bad breath and the urge to belch are long gone with the new types of fish oil encapsulation available.
So if you haven't considered fish oil recently now would be a good time.
The latest research suggest that fish oil when taken in a dosage containing between 700 and 900 milligrams of the fatty acids DHA/EPA substantially reduces inflammation in the arteries (one of the primary triggers for hardening of the arteries).
One word of caution, while fish oil supplements are generally considered very safe they do act as a blood thinner and you should consult your doctor for dosage guidelines, especially if you are already on blood thinning medications, blood pressure medications, or taking daily dose aspirin.
*Managing high blood pressure and diabetes: Managing these two serious condition should be an important part of any treatment plan for hardening of the arteries.
* Natural cholesterol reduction supplements and prescription medications: Cholesterol molecules are the building blocks for the arterial plaque deposits that over time lead to hardening of the arteries.
By reducing the amount of cholesterol and other fats making their way through your arteries you will have taken away the fire that lights the flame for this disease.
Talk with your doctor to determine which of the above treatment options is right for you.
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