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Steps to Prevention:
Atherosclerosis

Heart disease is a devastating lifestyle disease that now kills more women than men. It is so important to assess your heart health periodically. Compare your cardiovascular health markers to the list below as an aid to help you know where you stand.

You can have good heart health

Diet, supplements, exercise, relaxation, coping techniques, personal foundations changes can all contribute to stronger, healthier hearts. It is never too late to start living a stronger, healthier life. No matter where you are, you can dramatically reduce your risks. The biggest obstacle is often making the choice to change and then following up with effective action.

What is Atherosclerosis?

The term heart disease describes a disease of the blood vessels of the heart. The blood vessels called the coronary arteries supply the heart with vital oxygen and nutrients. If the blood flow through these arteries is restricted or blocked, severe damage or death to the heart muscle can occur – a heart attack. In most cases, the condition that blocks the blood and oxygen supply is atherosclerosis, hardening of the artery walls due to a buildup of plaque containing cholesterol, fatty material, and cellular debris.

What are the symptoms of Atherosclerosis?

Symptoms and signs depend on arteries involved and degree of obstruction

• Angina
• Leg cramps (intermittent claudication)
• Gradual mental deterioration
• Weakness or dizziness;
• Characteristically associated with high blood pressure, weak pulse, and wide pulse pressure
• May also be without symptoms
• Diagonal ear lobe crease

What causes Atherosclerosis?

The old view saw atherosclerosis as a plumbing problem. Fat laden plaque gradually builds up on the surface of the passive artery walls. If a deposit grows large enough, it eventually closes off an affected artery preventing blood from reaching its intended tissue. After a while the blood starved tissue dies. When a part of the cardiac muscle or the brain succumbs, a heart attack or stroke occurs. The old view that fat builds up on passive artery walls is no longer tenable.

The long held conception of how the disease develops turns out to be wrong. New research has established an essential role for inflammation in atherosclerosis. This process underlies all phases of the disorder from the creation of plaques to their growth and rupture. Now recognized as a central player in atherosclerosis, inflammation occurs when certain white blood cells (those that normally constitute the first line of defense against infection) invade and become active in a tissue. The inflammatory process ensues when someone’s blood carries too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

What can you do to prevent Atherosclerosis?

The search is now on for a way to halt the chronic destructive inflammation of atherosclerosis without undermining overall immunity with long term use of anti-inflammatory drugs. A more practical strategy would be to concentrate on defusing the triggers at the root of arterial inflammation. Atherosclerosis is largely a disease of lifestyle and diet and many of the resulting deaths could be averted by making dietary and lifestyle changes. There is no doubt that in most cases atherosclerosis is a disease directly related to diet and lifestyle. Treatment and prevention include reducing all known risk factors. For many patients this goal requires a major change in diet and lifestyle. Since so many factors are known to be involved in atherosclerosis, any treatment plan must be individualized to assure optimal results.

Dietary Modifications

Decrease consumption of saturated fat.

Increase consumption of fiber rich plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes)

Achieve ideal body weight. Weight reduction -- if appropriate.

Eliminate the consumption of coffee both caffeinated and decaffeinated.

Drink 1/2 oz. of water per pound of body weight daily

Eliminate margarine and other foods containing trans-fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils.

Include cold water fish, fish oil, and flaxseed oil in your diet

Include olive and canola oil in your diet.

Reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates.

Eat more garlic and onions

Generally, eat a lot more vegetables.

Nutritional Supplements

High potency multiple vitamin and mineral formula

Vitamin C – 500-1000 mg three x/d

Vitamin E – 400-800 IU/d

Flaxseed oil – 1 tbsp. /d

Fish oil - 1000 mg combined EPA & DHA

Garlic preparations – dosage to provide 4,000 mcg allicin

Lifestyle Modifications

Stay physically active

Explore emotional healing, stress management and spiritual healing

How do you know if you have Athersclerosis?

The following test results will not tell you conclusively if you have atherosclerosis. But they will tell you if you have the factors associated with a greater probability of having atherosclerosis. They can be used as longevity markers.

The aim is to keep yourself in the optimal ranges.

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH MARKERS

Total cholesterol

• Optimal – between 180 and 220 mg/dL
• Desirable - less than 200 mg/dL
• Borderline high – 201- 239 mg/dL
• High – more than 240 mg/dL

LDL cholesterol

• Optimal – under 100 mg/dL
• ÝDesirable – less than 130 mg/dL
• Borderline high – 130-159 mg/dL
• High – more than 160 mg/dL

HDL cholesterol

• Ultraprotective – more than 90 mg/dL
• Very protective – more than 70 mg/dL
• Protective – more than 50 mg/dL
• Moderate risk – 36-49 mg/dL
• High risk – less than 35 mg/dL

Triglycerides

• Optimal – under 100 mg/dL
• Normal – less than 160 mg/dL
• Borderline high – more than 160 mg/dL
• High risk – more than 200 mg/dL
• Dangerously high risk – 1,000 mg/dL

Total cholesterol to HDL ratio

• No higher than 4.2

LDL to HDL ratio

• No higher than 2.5

Blood pressure

• Longevity predictor – 100 / 60
• Normal – less than 130/80
• Borderline – 140/90
• High – more than 150/95

Homocysteine

• Optimal – under 7 - 10 umol/L
• Standard – up to 15 umol/L

Ferritin

• Females - 40 -80 ng/mL
• Males - 20 -50 ng/mL

C-reactive protein

• Optimal – less than .80 mg/dL
• Good - under 2 mg/dL
• Standard – up to 4.9 mg/dL

Fibrinogen

• Optimal – 180 - 350 mg/dL
• Standard – up to 460 mg/dL

TOP index

• Higher values indicate more oxidative protection while lower values represent a deficiency in oxidative stress protection

LP (a)

• Low risk – below 20 mg/dL
• Moderate risk – 20-40 mg/dL
• Extremely high risk – levels above 40 mg/dL

If you are interested in learning what your cardiovascular health markers are contact me to find out more about an indedependent clinical laboratory Comprehensive Cardiovascular Health Profile.

Usual disclaimers apply

© Copyright 1997 - 2008 by Mary Ann Copson and Evenstar. All rights reserved.

About the Author:
Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at
http://evenstaronline.com

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