Changing Image of Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis is the gathering of fatty substances in the arteries, is the main cause of most heart attacks. It is supposed to be a problem caused by the overload of cholesterol in arteries. Due to it, cholesterol crammed blockages occurred in the coronary arteries, the network of blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle. Small amount of cholesterol stick out in to the space available and makes it difficult for the artery to deliver enough oxygen enriched blood during exercise or stress conditions. It is resulted in to the chest pain called Angina. Large blockages of the artery resulted in to the heart attack.

The new findings in the heart diseases rate the atherosclerosis as a chronic condition caused mainly by inflammation. Blockages are rated as a second cause of damage in the arteries, brain and every thing which comes between the brain and the feet. This new concept explains that atherosclerosis grows steadily and can explode in a second. (As a heart attack)

This new thinking should change the thinking of the doctors and patients like us on how to protect our heart and arteries. The importance should be given to slowing, stopping or even reversing atherosclerosis and protecting plaque. The detection and treatment of blockages will not be well enough. The best way is to prevent atherosclerosis to happen.

Starting Point

Let's talk about a child. The arteries of the child who is active in physical activities and eats a healthy diet are smooth and flexible. The inner lining of the arteries, a layer called endothelium is clear. The arteries work very well and respond instantly to the tissue's demands of blood.

Now let's talk about another child. This child has a typical Western diet of pizzas, burgers and fried foods and, is not very active in physical activities. If this child continues to follow the Western diet in his teen and then young adult and then adult age, it will be resulted in to the atherosclerotic plaque which is the patches of toxic dirt which leads to diseases like angina, heart attack, memory loss, kidney disease, leg pain, sexual problems and other cardiovascular despairs.

In the old theories, the origin of plaque supposes to be a person ate too much cholesterol or his or her liver made too much in the body. And this theory was acceptable too in that time because fatty streaks and plaque are full of cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis occurs with an injury to the delicate endothelium.

The reasons could be:

• Damage from turbulent blood flow.
• Excessive body fat.
• High blood pressure.
• High blood sugar.
• Localized infection.
• Toxic chemicals from cigarette smoke.
• Too much cholesterol in the blood stream.

With the damage done some of the cells in endothelium become sticky. They trap passing white blood cells and persuade them to borrow in to the lining. These white blood cells mix up inflammatory cells and signals.

After some time, a new mold of tissue begins to form. It magnetizes LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) particles, which are innocently lying in our blood and circulates. The LDL particles enter the cells and oxidized by cell's high reactive contents. Circulating white blood cells searched for the oxidized LDL and break on it. As they obstruct and come towards death, they provide more inflammatory signals, continuing and accelerating the cycle. This cycle leads to sticky bunch of plaque surrounded here and there in the endothelium and each one is separated from the bloodstream by a thin lid.

Spreading Process of Plaque:

Plaque develops and increases in many different ways. Some plaque develops in to the open space inside an artery in the form of bumps, by which the blood flows. Plaque in one coronary artery always means plaque,

• in other coronary arteries
• in carotid arteries and small vessels, which are healthful to brain
• in the abdominal capillary
• in the renal arteries which supplies the kidney
• in the main pipeline of the blood which supplies blood to the lower part of the body
• in the arteries which supplies blood to the legs and feet

Generally most of the patches of plaque lump externally away from lumen. They don't come in the way of blood flow and they are too small that even an angiogram or stress test can't detect them. In small arteries, the plaque sometimes blocks the entire wall, but still it also can't be visible on angiogram.

In older findings of the atherosclerosis, it is said that only the biggest lumps caused heart attack. But the research has shown that soft plaques are equally dangerous.

When a plaque breaks, it starts spewing in to the bloodstream. The body sends in an army of molecules to resolute the flow and seals the crack. If the crack is small, it is quickly fixed. Inflammatory cells modify the plaque a bit, hardening it up.

If the crack is broad, the clot can block the artery completely by blocking blood flow, so blood can't reach to the heart muscles. This is called a heart attack or myocardial infraction, in medical terminology. If the clot isn't break up or removed immediately, muscle cells begin to die. The heart can tumble into the fast and erratic rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. The ventricles work so fast that they can't relax sufficiently to fill with blood. If the normal rhythm is not restored quickly, the blood circulation stops and death occurs. Even if the attack isn't as fatal, damage to the heart muscle can ultimately lead to heart failure.

When a plaque breaks in an artery which is supplying the blood to the brain or when that happens in a different place and the clot travels to the brain, it can cause an ischemic stroke which is the most common kind of stoke.

The New Point of View in Treatment:

The traditional point of view of coronary artery disease gives emphasis to blockages. Cardiologists first give advice to go for stress tests and angiograms. If no blockage is found, people are often told that they are fine, at times even in the cases of chest pain and other symptoms. If the blockage is found, treatment usually spotlights on squeezing the felonious plaque with a balloon (the process called angioplasty) and placing a stent to open the newly widened section of artery. Surgery is another option to remove the blockage.

But these treatments works only as delaying tactics, they don't cure the disease because they don't fix the actual problem, atherosclerosis. So at any time, at any place in the coronary artery, another plaque can enlarge or burst. The right way of treatment is to fight with atherosclerosis and inflammation.

One thing need to remember is that all the adults have some atherosclerosis. So the question arise that what to do to protect your heart and arteries. Just remember some really helpful tips:

• You are at low risk of having a heart attack if you don't smoke, have normal weight and normal levels of blood pressure and blood sugar.
• A healthy diet and daily exercise are your main defenders.
• If you have heart disease or you are at higher risk of having it, you should attack all the conditions with exercise and healthy diet.
• You should put in conscious efforts to control cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar with the help of medications.

The new view of atherosclerosis is also opening new ways to stop inflammation which drives plaque formation and shatter. Merging this with LDL lowering could give extravagant results.