Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects the arteries of the body. This can be caused by different factors, among which may be mentioned high blood LDL cholesterol. To understand a little more, in this note brindaré you a video, where you can see how atherosclerosis occurs and what is the effect of cholesterol on the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is caused by the association of different causative agents: physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, alcoholism, family history and age.
Some of these risk factors cannot be changed such as age and family history, but others can and should be changed to prevent atherosclerosis.
One of the preventive measures can be taken, is to reduce consumption of fatty foods containing cholesterol, saturated fat and Trans.
This video details how atherosclerosis occurs due to the effects of LDL or bad cholesterol on artery walls.
Cholesterol is classified into two types
* LDL or bad cholesterol, which transports cholesterol from the liver to body cells.
* HDL cholesterol or good, which carries cholesterol to the liver cells.
When there is a concentration of LDL cholesterol greater than 150mg/dl, this can be deposited on the inner walls of arteries damaged by such high voltage. If this happens there is an inflammation and oxidation process, which over time can become an arterial plaque or atheroma.
This can happen in different parts of the body, which can produce different consequences. This will depend on having such stability of atheromatous plaque.
* If the arterial plaque is stable, can continue growing, partially blocking the artery.
* If the plaque is unstable, and breaks can produce clots that completely clog the arterial lumen. This form can result in a myocardial infarction or stroke.
To prevent this from happening you need to change certain habits modifiable:
* Changing food.
* Stop smoking.
* Make physical activity.
* Controlling blood glucose and blood pressure.