Causes of Hardening of the Arteries

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Causes of Hardening of the Arteries

Hardening of the arteries, also called atherosclerosis, results from the buildup of fatty deposits and other substances in the lining of the arteries. This buildup, or plaque, significantly reduces blood flow in the arteries, the American Hearth Association explains. Heart disease can develop. Plaques can rupture and form blood clots that travel through the body and may block vessels that feed the heart, causing a heart attack. Blocking blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke. Chest pain from angina also results from the reduced blood flow.

High Cholesterol

Diets high in saturated fats increase low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels to increase the risk of hardening of the arteries, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Cholesterol levels normally increase as people age, and some people inherit high cholesterol levels. Diabetics have an increased risk of developing high cholesterol levels. The body has certain amounts of cholesterol for cell function, but excess cholesterol can come from food.

Unhealthy Diet

Sticking to diets low in saturated fat and trans fat helps keep LDL levels down. Saturated and trans fats can cause hardening of the arteries. Red meat, many fast foods or processed foods, and whole dairy products contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats. People can replace those fats with healthier monounsaturated fats, found in canola and olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna and other fish. Although moderate drinking of alcohol may have healthy benefits, heavy alcohol use increases the risk of developing hardening of the arteries, MedlinePlus notes.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Physical inactivity can raise risk factors for hardening of the arteries. A lack of exercise along with an unhealthy diet can contribute to factors that cause atherosclerosis. Being overweight or obese can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Losing weight helps decrease the risks. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol decreases the risk of atherosclerosis. HDL may pick up excess cholesterol on the artery walls and bring it to the liver where it leaves the body. Exercising regularly helps increase HDL levels while lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels to protect against hardening of the arteries.

Smoking

Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease. People who quit smoking, no matter how long they smoked, have only half the risk of developing heart disease as compared to people who continue to smoke, according to Merck Manuals. Tobacco use increases LDL cholesterol levels and decreases HDL levels. Increased levels of carbon monoxide in the blood through smoking can injure the lining of artery walls. Smoking contributes to the narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow and increases the risk of blood clots.

Source : http://www.livestrong.com/article/225069-causes-of-hardening-of-the-arteries/