Hypertensive And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease – Symptoms, Precautions Explained!

Heart health is really important to lead a healthy life. A delay in the pumping of the heart will affect your whole body and it is even capable of making you paralyzed and stationery.

With a healthy heart, one can survive and overcome other diseases. So maintaining the health of your heart is more vital than any other matter.

But nowadays people are more prone to heart disease due to different unhealthy habits and improper lifestyles. This article will discuss with you the symptoms and risk side of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is widely seen among people across the world.

What Is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is the condition of the deposition of plaque in the walls of the arteries. Plaque is a sticky component that is made of unhealthy fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other residues.

This plaque deposition will cause the hardening of the arteries which adversely affects the normal flow of blood in your body. As a result, you will experience a lack of oxygenated blood flow in several parts of the body making it disabled.

Atherosclerosis is one of the most dangerous conditions of the body which usually does not show any symptoms. It leads to an inadequate supply of nutrient-rich blood to the organs and tissues for their proper functioning.

This disease will cause hypertension or blood pressure as the rate of blood flow is not steady and regular. This will lead you to serious cardiovascular conditions like stroke, heart attacks, etc. 

High pressure in the blood will push off the plaque deposits leading to its erosion. But this process will lead to the clotting of blood in that area making very less space for the blood to flow. This will increase the risk of heart disease and complete collapse of your health.

But, the good news is that you can avoid all such risks by switching to a healthy lifestyle and eliminating bad habits from your routine. This article will help you to correct your habits to stay away from the risks of atherosclerosis.

Symptoms of Atherosclerosis

No symptoms of atherosclerosis are shown by the body until there is a blockage of the artery which affects the healthy flow of blood. But when blood flow is difficult, you will experience the following symptoms.

• Pain and cramps in the leg muscles

Once there is a blockage of blood circulation, you will experience cramps in the muscles, especially the legs. But you will also face pains in your arms, thighs, and other areas of the body. It is caused due to the obstruction of blood flow in that area. The intensity of the pain may vary from mild to severe depending on the condition.

• Discomfort in the chest

Discomfort or pain in the chest is the basic symptom of atherosclerosis. Chest pain occurs during the workout session or emotional stress. You may also notice pain in the back of the shoulders, neck, arms, etc which are the signs of a heart attack.

It will be accompanied by the symptoms like nausea and vomiting which is often mistaken as indigestion. Stiffness or numbness in the neck is also experienced by some of the victims.                               

• Shortness of breath

Difficulty in breathing is another active sign of the occurrence of blockage. When affected by atherosclerosis, you will experience shortness of breath even while performing light physical activities. As you are not getting enough oxygenated blood for doing activities, you will feel tired soon.

• Confusion and weakness

Atherosclerosis may also cause confusion and weakness as the brain lacks oxygen. As a result, one will also feel dizzy or lightheaded, drooping of one side of the body, have severe headaches, have difficulty speaking, and have problems with eyesight. These might be symptoms of stroke which is the aftereffect of atherosclerosis. 

How to avoid Atherosclerosis?

Prevention is always better than cure and it is a good idea to follow a healthy lifestyle to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Now let us discuss some of the methods to stay away from this problem.

• Restrain from smoking

Smoking will result in plaque development in the blood vessels of your body leading to atherosclerosis. It raises the risk of heart disease if you are suffering from a high level of blood cholesterol, blood glucose, or blood pressure. It affects the smooth flow of blood to the brain, arms, legs, and other organs of your body. So you should gradually restrain from cigarette smoking to avoid the occurrence of atherosclerosis and other severe heart issues.

• Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important to stay fit and healthy. You can do it by keeping a normal BMI and avoiding fat deposition in various parts of the body. A steady rate of metabolism is very important to melt out the fat accumulations in the body. 

Deposition of cholesterol will occupy the space in the blood vessel giving very less space for the blood to flow over.

This will increase blood pressure along with blood cholesterol and blood glucose, making you prone more to heart diseases. Hence, it is necessary to remove all the fat accumulations including those deposited around your abdomen.

• Eat healthy diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is another way to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet which is rich in fiber and other essential nutrients. Avoid the intake of unhealthy food products which contain saturated and trans fats. 

You can switch to monounsaturated fats like olive oil from other unhealthy saturated oil which is widely and cheaply available. It is better if you include avocados, nuts, and protein-rich food in your diet. Such products will keep you fuller and avoid unhealthy cravings.

• Perform regular workout

Along with all the other measures, you can also follow regular exercise practices to speed up the results and stay fit. A good workout along with melting out the calories will help in improving blood circulation. This helps you to avoid the risks of cardiovascular illness. If you are under any kind of medical condition you can speak with your health practitioner to suggest apt workout practices for you to burn out the fat.

Final Take

This article might be helpful for you to know about hypertensive and atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease. In brief, it is a disease condition that affects the healthy flow of nutrient-rich blood in the body.

This is one of the most dangerous situations which may lead to death by hindering the proper functioning of the heart. 

This article also suggests ways to prevent this kind of disease. It also helps you to know about the symptoms of this problem.

You can consult with your doctor immediately if you notice any such symptoms in your body. A fast discovery of diseases will make the treatment much easier.