Your cardiovascular system consists of a network of arteries, veins, blood vessels, and capillaries that deliver oxygen and many vital nutrients through your bloodstream throughout your body. Your heart drives the entire system, the always-working fist-shaped organ that powers blood throughout the body with four chambers, valves, arteries, and muscles.
To continue pumping blood and keeping your body going, your heart receives nutrients through the arteries, and medical problems that compromise these areas can lead to life-threatening conditions. The risk of such issues becomes more common as you get older, so let’s find out more about threats to your arteries, their complications, and how you can avoid them.
For residents of Riverside, California, Melanchton Mangoba, MD, and our dedicated medical staff can help with maintaining your heart health as well as treat a range of other primary care needs.
Major arteries are found in several areas of your body, including your limbs, digestive system, kidneys, and neck. Still, the main arteries of the heart (the coronary and pulmonary arteries) are associated with many common cardiovascular problems. Here are just some of the arterial problems people deal with:
Atherosclerosis, the term for the buildup of cholesterol plaque in the blood vessels, commonly leads to the obstruction of blood flow that can cause many other arterial problems, which also include stroke and heart attacks.
Other factors for arterial problems include hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels), hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, smoking, and a family history of artery issues.
Managing the risk of atherosclerotic problems means a combination of changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, as well as possible medications and treatments depending on the severity of your issues. Some basic ways to avoid these illnesses include:
Reducing the amount of bad cholesterol (also known as low-density lipoproteins, or LDLs, and triglycerides) from processed foods, fast food, and red meat helps your arteries and heart a great deal. Improve your diet with a higher focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
Getting up and doing more walking, running, aerobics, and other forms of exercise will help your whole body and do wonders for your cardiovascular health.
In moderation, drinking poses far less risk to your heart, but doing it too much raises your blood pressure, increases your heart rate, and causes irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias). Lowering the number of drinks you have helps lower the risk of arterial problems.
The nicotine in tobacco products makes quitting this habit difficult, but if you don’t, your risk of many medical problems increases, including damaging the lining of blood vessels and contributing to a higher chance of blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke.
Many of the arterial problems and other cardiovascular conditions mentioned can also affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Getting more physical activity in, as well as improving your diet, can help you improve your sleep and keep your arteries and heart in better shape.
As we age, our habits and choices can affect our health in ways we don’t see until problems start to present themselves. In order to avoid the complications of artery problems, make an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Mangoba and his team today to better understand your cardiovascular health and learn how to keep it under control.
