Atherosclerosis is a health state in which fatty sediments(plaque) get jammed in arteries. These fatty heaps are formed by fatty things, cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste substances, blood clotting things, and fibrin.
As the plaque starts to accumulate, the blood veins will become thick. It decreases the size of artery streams, which limits the blood supply in the body. As a result, it will lessen the oxygen and other necessary nutrients in the body.
Wherever plaque grows, the artery gets affected. This condition varies from person to person. Plaque may partially block or completely block the blood flow by medium to large size arteries in the brain, heart, legs, pelvis, arms, and kidneys. Atherosclerosis patients have the following conditions:
- Coronary heart problems
- Chest pain by lowered blood flow to muscles of the heart (Angina)
- Plaque build-up in neck arteries, which supply blood to the brain (Carotid artery ailment)
- Plaque build-up in arteries in legs (PAD or Peripheral artery disease
- Chronic kidney disease
Causes
Table of Contents
Atherosclerosis occurs because of cholesterol, fat, and other substances build-up in the arteries’ walls. Here are some factors, which raise the risk of atherosclerosis.
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Family history
- High-fat diet
- Diabetes
- Increasing age
- Heavy alcohol use
- Smoking
Plaque Increase The Risk
Plaque accumulation itself is a risk for health. Even the plaque pieces break and flow with bloodstream until it stuck somewhere. As the plaque stuck, it reduces the blood flow, and other plaque pieces come and accumulate there, which could contribute to a blood clot in the inner wall of blood vessels. Either it blocked artery or reduce the blood circulation to the brain and cause stroke or heart attack.
How It Starts And How It Grows?
Atherosclerosis is a slowly progressive condition that may begin in childhood. Some people develop atherosclerosis rapidly in their 30s. Other people may not be at this risk until they reach the age of 50-60s. As the age increase, it is natural to harden the arteries. The exact cause of arteries hardening is unknown.
Different scientists think that plaque start when the inner lining of the artery called endothelium becomes damage. Here are the causes of similar damage:
- Raised blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels
- Increased blood pressure
- Smoking cigarette
Smoking is the main cause of increasing atherosclerosis in the main streams of arteries, legs, and coronary arteries. It increases the chances of plaque formation.
Natural Prevention for Atherosclerosis
Artichoke extract (ALE)
Artichoke is a plant, and its stem, leaf, and roots are used for getting extracts, which naturally contain some chemicals. These extracts are useful for medicinal purposes. This supplement is also called as ALE or artichoke leaf extract. According to studies, this extract helps to increase good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol.
The artichoke extract act as a natural prevention for atherosclerosis. It comes in the form of tinctures, capsules, and tablets. The suggested dosage depends on your condition and the type of capsule you take. However, research indicates that overdosing may cause side effects.
Artichoke helps to stimulate the bile flow from the liver. This process will lower the symptoms like alcohol hangover and heartburn. This extract is utilized for irritable bowel syndrome, high cholesterol, anemia, kidney problems, fluid retention, bladder infection, arthritis, and liver ailment like hepatitis C.
Some individuals use artichoke for treating snakebites, high blood pressure, gallstones, and reducing high blood sugar. It also treats urine incontinence and works as a stimulant.
This extract is used for flavoring the beverages from artichoke chemicals like chlorogenic acid and Cynarin.
How Does It Work?
The chemicals present in Artichoke helps to lower the vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, and spasms. These chemicals also help to reduce cholesterol and promote liver health.
Side Effects & Safety
Artichoke is safe when taken in the specific recommended amounts. It is also safe when you consume it orally. You can use it for 23 months safely.
Some people may suffer from side effects such as upset stomach, gas, and diarrhea. Artichoke may also cause allergic reactions. People are at high risk of allergy who have allergy with daisies and other herbs.
Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
There isn’t sufficient solid data about the safety of consuming artichoke when you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother. Avoid during these periods to prevent side effects.
Bile duct obstruction:
There is a worry that artichoke may decline bile duct obstruction by increasing bile flow. During this condition, avoid using artichoke without the advice of your medicinal services supplier.
Ragweed and Plants Allergy:
Artichoke may have allergic reactions in people with plan sensitivity. The plant family includes chrysanthemums, ragweed, daisies, marigolds. Avoid this to prevent allergies.
Gallstones:
Artichoke might increase bile flow and worsen the gallstone condition.
Garlic
Garlic is a potential herb for treating many health problems like baldness to cancer. However, studies regarding garlic and heart health are combined. According to a literature review of 2009, garlic does not lower cholesterol, but a similar research review of 2014 recommends that consuming garlic helps to prevent heart disease. There is another study of 2012 discovered that aged garlic extract with coenzyme Q10 helps to lower the growth of atherosclerosis.
For health purposes, garlic available in the form of capsules.
Impact Of Garlic On Atherosclerosis
According to a review study of utilizing garlic for the inhibition of atherosclerosis and its diseases. Garlic instantly reduces the condition of atherosclerosis by reducing hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and thrombus formation. Additionally, during an animal study, garlic directly produces anti-atherogenic and anti-atherosclerotic impacts on the artery wall. Garlic direct effect over atherosclerosis may tell by its capacity of lower lipid content in the arterial cells and block intracellular lipid accumulation. This result is characterized by different atherosclerotic signs that are activation of extracellular matrix structure and cell proliferation. According to clinical experiments, garlic therapy worked efficiently on human atherosclerosis. These actual results of clinical experiments introduced a new era of garlic for atherosclerosis prevention and treatment and its linked disease.
How Does Garlic Work?
Garlic generates a chemical named as allicin. Allicin chemical makes garlic work for certain conditions, including atherosclerosis. Some garlic product is odorless because of aging. It is important to check the supplement coated with an enteric coating, which gets dissolved in the intestine and not in your stomach.
Dosing
Here is the dosing of garlic for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
By Mouth
Generally, 300 mg garlic powder pills like Lichtwer Pharma, Kwai are recommended for single-dose or 3-times every day for four years.
150 mg of particular garlic supplements like INAT-Farma, Allicor, suggests two times every day for 24 months.
Regarding aged garlic supplements like Total Heart Health, Kyolic, Wakunga, Formula 108, have 250 mg recommended for 12 months.
Also, the garlic supplement comes in a combination product with 300 mg recommended 4-dose every day for one year.
Garlic: Side Effects & Safety
When garlic consumed by mouth: Garlic is safe for the vast majority when consumed by mouth. Garlic has been utilized securely to study for as long as 7-years. When you consume by mouth, garlic can cause terrible breath, a consuming sensation in the mouth or stomach, acid reflux, nausea, gas, diarrhea, and body odor. These reactions are regularly more regrettable with raw garlic. Garlic may likewise expand the danger of bleeding. There have been statements of bleeding after the medical procedure in individuals who have consumed garlic. Asthma has been accounted for in individuals working with garlic, and other unfavorably susceptible responses are possible.
Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy And Feeding Mother
Generally, garlic is safe during pregnancy when consumed with other food. It may not be safe as a medicinal amount in pregnancy and feeding mother. Therefore, please take your doctor to advise.
Children:
Make sure garlic should not be given in large doses by mouth because it is unsafe for children.
Bleeding disorder:
Garlic may raise the risk of bleeding in people with a bleeding disorder.
Diabetes:
Garlic can bring down glucose. In theory, consuming garlic may make glucose excessively low in individuals with diabetes.
Digestion and Stomach problems:
Garlic can disturb the gastrointestinal tract. Use with an alert if you have stomach or digestion issues.
Low blood pressure:
Garlic can bring down pulse. In theory, taking garlic may make blood pressure excessively low in individuals with low blood pressure.
Surgery:
Garlic may raise bleeding and intervene with blood pressure. Garlic may likewise bring down glucose levels. Quit taking garlic, in any event, two weeks before a planned medical surgery.
Niacin
Niacin is also called as vitamin B-3. It is naturally available in foods like salmon, tuna, animal liver, and chicken. It also found in the form of supplements. Your doctor may suggest niacin supplements to manage cholesterol by increasing your good cholesterol near about 30%. It helps to reduce triglycerides and heart disease risk. Niacin supplement also helps to flush the toxins from the skin and prevent nausea and prickly feeling.
Niacin Dosage
Since niacin is used for different conditions, take your health expert advice for safe dosage.
Everyone requires a specific amount of niacin from supplements or foods for normal functions of the body. This amount is described as the dietary reference intake, which is a term for replacing RDA. Here are the niacin recommendation milligrams.
- Children: age 2-16 milligrams every day (depending on age)
- Men: 16 milligrams (daily)
- Women: 14 milligrams (daily)
- Women (pregnant): 18 milligrams (daily)
- Female (breastfeeding): 17 milligrams (daily)
Most extreme day by day consumption for all ages considered: 35 milligrams (day by day)
Side effects
Niacin helps to flush out the toxins. Your doctor will suggest promoting dose slowly to decrease the problem. The physician also provides a time table for the proper use of formulation. Niacin may cause to upset your stomach and trigger diarrhea. However, these side effects will cure in some time.
Risks
Niacin may have risk due to overdose. It may affect the functions of the liver, glucose levels, and cause stomach ulcers. It also causes a change in heart rhythm, muscle damage, and reduced blood pressure. Individuals with health problems such as kidney disease, liver, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems need advice from an expert before taking niacin supplements.
Avoid trying to treat high cholesterol with the over-the-counter supplement of niacin.
Interactions
Consuming supplements or medicines regularly require to take the permission of your doctor. Regular consumption of niacin may interact with blood thinners, diabetes medicine, blood pressure, anticonvulsants, thyroid hormones, and antibiotics such as Ginkgo Biloba and other antioxidants. Taking niacin with high cholesterol increase the side effect risk.
Policosanol
Policosanol is another natural prevention for Atherosclerosis. It is an extract of the plant-like yams and sugar cane. According to an extensive study from Cuban scientists, they derived policosanol from sugar cane. They discovered that the policosanol extract helps to lower cholesterol properties. According to the 2010 literature shows that no tests out of Cuba confirmed these findings.
According to a review of 2017 concluded that the Cuban study was more accurate that the research from Cuba.
How Does It Work?
Policosanol appears to diminish cholesterol creation in the liver and to build the breakdown of LDL (low-thickness lipoprotein or “terrible”) cholesterol. It likewise diminishes the tenacity of particles in the blood known as platelets.
Side Effects & Safety
Policosanol is safe for many people when taken orally with doses of 5-8 mg every day for 3-years.
This supplement may have mild side effects, including sleeping problems, headaches, skin redness, upset stomach, dizziness, and weight loss.
Precautions & Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
There is not enough conclusive proof of the safety of consuming policosanol during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Stay on the secure side and avoid it.
Bleeding disorders
Consuming policosanol may reduce blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding in individuals with bleeding disorders.
Dosing
ADULTS BY MOUTH:
Generally, for leg pain because of low blood circulation, 10 mg of policosanol is recommended 1-2 times every day for 2-years.
For Atherosclerosis, you should take doctor advice, which will be based on your specific condition.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a type of shrub grown across the world. The hawthorn extract is used for the medicine of heart disease.
According to the research of 2010 recommend that hawthorn is an effective and safe treatment for a heart ailment. It consists of chemical quercetin, which lowers cholesterol.
How Does It Work?
Hawthorn can help to treat the Atherosclerosis condition by improving blood pumping from the heart while contractions and widen the blood vessels. It also improves the signals of nerves.
Hawthorn also possesses blood pressure reducing activity mentioned by research. It helps to relax the blood vessels from your heart. It happens because of the component effects called proanthocyanidin.
According to research, hawthorn helps to reduce bad cholesterol, lipoprotein density, and triglyceride (fats present in the blood). It also reduces the fat accumulations in the liver and the largest artery of the body, which present near the heart. The extract of hawthorn fruit reduces cholesterol by improving bile excretion, lowering cholesterol formation, promoting LDL receptors.
Dosing
The dosing for Atherosclerosis is strictly recommended to take under the guidance of health experts because everyone has different health conditions. Here are the general recommendations.
Brewed tea
You can consume it 3-times every day after a meal; consume one teaspoon of flowers and leaves/8 oz boiling water.
Fruit
- Dried powder: 300-1000 mg – orally – 3 times every day
- Fluid concentrate: 0.5-1 ml – orally – 3 times everyday
- Tincture: 1-2 ml – orally – 3 times everyday
- Strong concentrate: 1/4-1/2 teaspoon orally once/day
- Syrup: 1 teaspoon – orally 2-3 times every day
Leaf/flower
- Extract: 160-900 mg/d – orally div 2-3 times everyday
- Powder: 200-500 mg – orally 2-3 times everyday
- Tincture: 20 drops – orally 2-3 times every day
Other Information
- Concentrate standardized to 20% procyanidins or 1.8% vitexin-4-rhamnoside
- As long as about 14 days of treatment important to deliver recognizable impacts.
Red yeast rice
It is another natural prevention for Atherosclerosis. This product is prepared by fermenting the white rice by combining it with yeast. It is commonly used in the traditional medicine of China.
According to a study of 1999 discover that it reduces the cholesterol levels. The red yeast rice contains a powerful substance called monacolin K. It acts similar to Lovastatin, which is a statin drug used for reducing cholesterol. It is the same as monacolin K, and lovastatin has made Food-and-Drug-Administration stop the red yeast rice supplement sale. This supplement consists of more monacolin K, which has been banned.
Things to consider
There is no enough proof that any natural supplement will permanently treat atherosclerosis. A good plan to treat atherosclerosis includes a healthy diet with prescribed medicines and supplements.
Your doctor’s advice is important to prevent medicine and supplement interaction and side effects.
Remember, supplements are regulated by FDA like how drugs are. Their quality may change the brand to brand.
Natural Therapies
If you are looking to manage atherosclerosis with natural therapy, make sure to take your physician’s advice before starting the treatment. You have to discuss every small symptom of your condition to have proper understanding.
Here are some other natural ways to prevent atherosclerosis.
Yoga
According to a study of 2013, performing regular yoga and meditation helps to lower early atherosclerosis. It also helps to improve BMI, lipids, and blood pressure.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
According to recent studies, consuming omega-3 fatty acids reduce atherosclerosis and other heart problems from the anti-inflammation mechanism.
You can find these supplements from oily fish like mackerel and salmon.
Other prevention
In many cases, one should manage lifestyle change to prevent atherosclerosis.
Maintaining a healthy weight
Reducing weight does not make you feel better, but it can help your arteries. The arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the heart to other organs in the whole body. During the condition of atherosclerosis, your arteries become narrow due to plaque build-up. Having more weight makes the atherosclerosis condition worse. Therefore, managing a healthy weight is important.
Lowering extra weight reduces the chances of stroke, heart attack, and circulation problems.
Stop Smoking
Around one billion adults across the world are smokers, and at least 700 million of them are passive smokers, including children at home. Smoking reduces the functions of organs and causes to crease illnesses such as pneumonia, lung cancer, periodontal disease, urinary and gastrointestinal problem, arthritis, cataract. Additionally, smoking causes to develop the risk of cardiovascular ailments, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis.