Disease and Treatments

The hardening of the arteries, also known as Atherosclerosis is the process by which arteries become narrowed with cholesterol deposits known as plaques. Recent studies have shown that the cells in the the tissues that line the inner surfaces of the coronary arteries(enddothelium) will malfunction when exposed to high blood pressure, high levels ofplaque or insulin, smoking, and chronic stress. Under the influence of one or more of these factors, the endothelial cells release harmful chemicals that create a sticky surface. This sticky surface, attract other cells that accelerate a process leading toAtherosclerosis. This process involves several different types of cells in the vessel walls and may take years to develop. It is called plaque. This plaque is actually a type of living tissue, not a mineral-like deposit. I t needs blood to support its cells just as any tissue does. This blood is provided by a series of tiny blood vessels that extend themselves from the original arterial wall into the new growth. When this plaque does not get enough blood and nutrients, it dies and is replaced with actual bone tissue in a process called coronary calcification.
Sometimes a plaque grows so swiftly that the blood vessels are unable to form quickly enough, to supply the plaque’s cells with oxygen and nutrients. This leads to the development of dead plaque. As the plaque continues to grow, it presses against the cap that covers it .Plaques spring small leaks and blood clotting factors in the blood come to the rescue, sealing off these breaks. This temporarily keeps dead material from escaping into the artery’s main channel. Unfortunately the sealant produced by the blood-clotting factors is converted into additional plaque over time, which increases the size of the original plaque. This increases the amount of obstruction inside the artery and makes it more difficult for adequate amounts of blood to reach the heart muscle. However, a blockage by itself is not the cause of a heart attack.
Cardiovascular Disease usually starts when a plaque blocking only 30 to 40 percent of the blood flow ruptures and the interior escapes. The fatty substances in this decayed material combine with clotting factors in the blood to form a dangerous clot. This clot may remain at the point of rupture or it may travel down an artery until it hits another plaque or area of obstruction .It then lodges in this new location blocking more than 70 percent and sometimes as much as 90 percent of the blood flow. In recent years doctors have been giving medication to dissolve this clot in the hours after a heart attack with good results.
Only 10 to 20 percent of the plaque in our bodies have a high probability of rupturing, but they are still dangerous because they are unstable. Such plaque account for 80 to 90 percent of all serious heart problems, including heart attacks and chest pain due to inadequate blood flow, which is called angina.
Although cholesterol levels in the blood stream can be reduced in a matter of days or weeks, the effects of lower cholesterol levels on the vessel wall function may require up to six months.
The blood itself can also promote the process of atherosclerosis by thickening. Increases in blood thickness called viscosity, and elevated levels of a clotting protein called fibrinogen have been reported in patients with high cholesterol levels. The use of cholesterol lowering supplements or drugs has been associated with reductions in both blood viscosity and fibrinogen levels. Aspirin, a drug derived from the willow tree reduces the stickiness which causes plaque. The natural remedies for a healthy heart, concentrate on improving endothelial cell function. This improved function creates a healthier heart by widening the blood vessels and reducing the chance that a sudden blockage would occur should a plaque burst. The heart is an extraordinary organ, but it cannot be expected to adapt to overwhelming amounts of damage.