Youth is the time in which our bodies and health are usually in an optimal state. We are reckless with the food options and tend to eat everything, healthy or unhealthy. Our practices do not hurt us then but show their effect later on in life. One such issue is the deposition of fat and other materials in blood vessels, clogging them up. If you want to know how to unclog your arteries naturally, your answer is in this blog.
Firstly, we will briefly discuss how arteries get blocked; then we will move on with ways to unclog it.
Atherosclerosis
It is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the artery. Plaque is the collection of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and waste from the body. When it adheres itself to the wall of arteries, it narrows the pathway for blood to flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis.
The clogged arteries become hard, obstructing proper blood flow to the heart and other parts. When these particles stick to the walls of the arteries, our immune system sends in white blood cells to get rid of the foreign matter. This reaction starts a reaction causing inflammation.
In worst cases, these plaque blocks can detach from the wall and settle in an artery to completely block it, causing a heart attack. That is why it is vital to unclog arteries to stop the resistance of blood flow.
5 Methods to Unclog Arteries
Here are a few methods to deal with clogged arteries
1. Changes in Diet
Diet plays a very important role in a healthy lifestyle. Changing what you eat can greatly reduce the risk of building up plaque in the arteries. Add good fats, also referred to as unsaturated fats, to your diet. Olives, fish, avocados are some examples.
Cut Down on Sugar
Refined sugar consumption is low on nutrition value and impacts negatively on the body.
Increased Fiber Intake
These foods help in lowering LDL. Soluble fibers are abundantly found in vegetables, beans, lentils, etc.
Stop Consumption of Trans Fats
Decrease the intake of processed foods that contain trans fats.
2. Regular Exercise
One of the best ways to unclog arteries filled with plaque is to work out daily. Cardiovascular workouts like jogging, cycling, swimming, and brisk walking does wonders in reducing heart health risks and plaque.
3. Quit Smoking
Smoking tends to increase the size of the fatty plaque blocking the artery. It will give rise to high density lipoproteins, which are great for the body.
4. Drugs
Lifestyle changes alone cannot unclog the arteries easily. Aid from medicinal drugs is just the push it needs to work appropriately. For this condition, a class of drugs known as statins is used to maintain cholesterol levels. ACE inhibitors help lower blood pressure, and antiplatelet drugs prevent blood clotting.
5. Surgery
Three possible surgeries to unclog the arteries include
Bypass Surgery
In this surgery, a blood vessel from a different body location is attached around the clogged artery to diverge the blood flow.
Thrombolytic Therapy
A process that involves dissolving the clot by injecting the drug into the clogged vessel.
Angioplasty
Intervention is done using a balloon catheter to expand the clogged artery.
Atherectomy
Removal process of plaque from the blocked arteries with the help of a blade and catheter.
Outlook
From this blog, we conclude that diet and exercise can greatly help to unclog an artery. However, this condition is graver than it sounds. We highly suggest you consult one of the best cardiologists at Epic Heart and Vascular Center for the best treatment. Call at (832) 432-1951 in Houston and 832 952 1951 Willowbrook for more details.