Can We Lower Plaque Buildup In Our Arteries?

Our body naturally produces a fatty substance called cholesterol. High blood cholesterol levels promote the development and growth of vascular plaques, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

How does plaque accumulate in arteries?

When cholesterol gets stuck in the arterial wall, plaque develops. White blood cells are sent by the body to fight back and capture the cholesterol. The cholesterol is then transformed into foamy cells that leak more fat and increase inflammation. This causes the arterial wall’s muscle cells to proliferate and cover the region with a cap. However, there is a harmful soft plaque underneath the cap.

For instance, an increase in blood pressure puts strain on the plaque’s thin wall, which increases the risk of a rapture, clot formation, and heart attack. Most significant heart attacks are caused by plaque ruptures.

Over time, plaques that progressively get bigger are frequently protected from rupture by thick, fibrous caps. They may nevertheless obstruct blood flow, leading to angina (exertion- or stress-related chest pain). Additionally, these blockages may result in a different kind of heart attack.

Can you clear your arteries or lower plaque buildup?

While it is impossible to completely eradicate plaque, it is possible to reduce and maintain it with medicine and lifestyle modifications.

Doctors specifically aim to treat the softer plaques before they rupture. For instance, the objective is to try to draw out the cholesterol from within a 30% soft plaque blockage in the artery so that the plaque shrinks to 15% and is left empty.

How can the cholesterol in the plaque be removed? by reducing blood cholesterol levels, which are carried by particles known as lipoproteins. Blood artery walls are coated with cholesterol by low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) are two examples of statins, which are the medications most frequently used to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Statins inhibit the hepatic enzyme that stimulates the creation of cholesterol. It has also been demonstrated that drastic lifestyle adjustments reduce plaque.

Among these lifestyle adjustments are:

Following a Mediterranean Diet Plan

It can 30% lower the risk of heart disease. It is low in processed or red meats, moderate in the amount of cheese and wine you can have, and abundant in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seafood, and olive oil.

Quitting smoking

The artery lining is harmed by smoking. HDL levels can be raised by quitting.

Working Out

In addition to lowering blood pressure, burning body fat, and lowering blood sugar, aerobic exercise can increase HDL. Losing weight and exercising together can also lower LDL levels. Try to get in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense activity per week.

Dispelling the myth about cholesterol

Why doyou need this tricky substance to survive?

Although cholesterol is frequently demonized as the bad guy, we actually need this waxy, fatty material to produce hormones, vitamin D, bile, which helps with digestion, and the membranes that surround our cells. Although every cell in the body have the capacity to manufacture cholesterol, the liver produces 75% of it.

The liver transports cholesterol throughout the bloodstream in the form of packages with protein on the outside and cholesterol on the inside when cells require extra cholesterol. We call these cholesterol-containing particles low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. When blood LDL levels are excessive, cholesterol may accumulate in arterial walls and create plaques. LDL is referred to be “bad” cholesterol for this reason.

Certain high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles assist in removing cholesterol from plaques caused by atherosclerosis, while LDL particles contribute cholesterol to these plaques. This is the reason it’s frequently called “good” cholesterol.

What levels of LDL and HDL should you strive for?

There is a correlation between a lower risk of heart disease and an HDL of 60 mg/dL or above. Your cardiovascular risk profile will determine your specific LDL target. An LDL of fewer than 70 mg/dL is the ideal for patients with coronary artery disease or other signs of cardiovascular disease; some medical professionals are now aiming for an LDL of less than 55 mg/dL.