Atherosclerosis
There are several diseases that thicken the wall of the arteries, causing the arteries to narrow and making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood through the arterial system. The disease that causes this to happen to the arteries most of the time is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a dangerous condition since it can affect the arteries that are most important: The arteries to the brain, the heart, kidneys, arms and legs. The most danger occurs when arteries to the brain are affected since this may cause a stroke, or when arteries to the heart are affected since this may cause a heart attack. Atherosclerosis may not be indicated until a severe effect to a body part happens: While walking, for example, a person may experience chest pains which prove to be angina. Causes of atherosclerosis are smoking, poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and high blood pressure. However, high blood pressure originally may have occurred because of the poor habits mentioned above.
Treatment and prevention can be the same. This means to correct all the causes of atheroscleosis. Quit smoking, change to a healthy lifestyle of proper nutrition, weight control and exercise. Proper nutrition means to eat no refined glucose or carbohydrates, eat fruits, vegetables, lean protein, cold water fish, sprouted grain bread, and fiber. Special foods to eat are two table spoons of ground flax seed each day mixed in water, fruit juice or soy milk, and eat cerery stalks or drink celery juice. Flax seed will be especially helpful in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. Flax seed has an ample supply of the Omega 3 fatty acids, which is correctly recognized as the healthy fat to ingest, and because of the high fiber content of ground flax seed, it will also help eliminate constipation. The exercise program should be thirty minutes, three to six times per week. Before starting on this program discuss it with your health care provider or doctor.
