Atherosclerosis the inside of the arteries are thickened, hardened and stiffened, causing the space for blood flow to be narrowed or closed. This will decrease the oxygen supply to local or distant tissues.

The primary symptom of this is pain, poor organ function and bad general condition. The further consequences are tissue damage, sometimes acute damage because by stop of blood flow caused by a sudden blood clot formed in the narrowed areas.

THE CAUSES OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The inner walls of the arteries consist of an innermost layer of endothelial cells and under these a layer of smooth muscle cells. The development of atherosclerosis probably begins by a damage in the endothelium. Factors that cause endothelial damage and thus atherosclerosis are:

* High content of cholesterol in the blood.

* High content of blood fat and especially saturated fat.

* Inflammation in the blood vessels. A sign of such inflammation is the presence of a substance called c-reactive protein.

* High amount of oxidation agents in the blood.

* High blood pressure.

* Diabetes.

* High age.

* Smoking.

* Men have a somewhat higher chance of getting this condition than women.

* High content of the amino acid homocystein in the blood serum.

THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Atherosclerosis can be prevented and cured by these measures, of which most are lifestyle adjustments:

* Eating just a little or moderate amount of fat.

* Eating just a moderate amount of sugar.

* The fat eaten should be a blending of different types of unsaturated fat from sources like: Olive oil, rape oil, sunflower oil, soy oil, walnut oil and fish. Then you will get enough of mono-unsaturated fat, omega-3-unsaturated fat, and omega-6-poly-unsaturated fat.

* Eating much fish and just a little red meat.

* Eating a good amount of fruit and vegetables each day.

* Supply of enough vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

* Only consuming moderate amount of salt.

* Stop smoking.

By serious local narrowing of an artery, surgery to clean out or widen the artery is sometimes performed. Sometimes the artery is replaced by a graft taken from another body part or by an artificial vessel. When this is done in the heart, it is denoted as bypass surgery.

Alternative treatment to clean out the arteries is an option. There is for example a treatment consisting of using the substance EDTA to carry constituents of plaque away from the arteries.There is however a controversy about the effectiveness of this treatment, called chelating therapy.

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