WHAT IS ATHEROSCLEROSIS?

1. Anatomical definition – Is the hardening, narrowing, and roughening of the arteries. The rougher it is, the faster the blood corpuscles will cling. The normal artery is characterized as having a pliable, soft, and smooth inner lining.

2. Reparative definition – It is a natural repair process gone “awry”. The body has the good intention of repairing the damaged wall of the inner lining of the arteries but it went berserk. It is due to an error of nature in its process of repair. Since the body detected and sensed that the arteries are damaged, the body’s innate reaction is to repair it. It will go to the process of bringing it back to health, and on that process it deposits calcium to firm up the damaged inner wall lining or “cement the damage”, that it is why it will become narrow and hardened.

3. Etiological definition – it is a pathological condition of multiple and complex etiology, the major cause of which are deficiencies or lack of nutrients that maintains the integrity of the arteries’ components (i.e. tissues and cells); and its functional capabilities resulting to damage and dysfunction in the cell membrane, the nucleus, the mitochondria, and other components of the cell. This is otherwise known as Bio-molecular, Bio-chemical, and Bio-cellular derangement.

RISK FACTORS

Certain physical traits and unhealthy habits are risk factors that increase your chances of developing the disease. Heredity and aging are risk factors that can’t be controlled. But you can control others, such as smoking, eating foods high in fats and having hypertension. Even diabetes, a condition that speeds the progression of the disease, can be controlled.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE DISEASE

1. A Damaged Artery – Peripheral disease begins when the artery’s smooth inner wall is damaged. Risk factors cause damage to occur more quickly by depositing chemicals and fats in the blood. These materials will collect within and along the damaged artery wall, forming plaque.

2. A Narrowed Artery – If plaque keeps collecting, the artery narrows and blood flow is reduced. During activity, the artery may have trouble meeting the body’s need for extra oxygen. So far, no lasting tissue or muscle damage has occurred.

3. A Blocked Artery – Blood flow is completely blocked by plaque or by a blood clot that lodges in the narrow artery. You may feel pain even during at rest state. Without constant supply of oxygen, tissues are damaged and may die because it is permanently blocked.

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ESTUITA MEDICAL INC.

"the adult heart, hypertension, diabetes & stroke clinic

that treats on the molecular & cellular level."

Location: Unit 105 Taft Office Centre Condominium, 1986 Taft Avenue,

near Buendia LRT station, Pasay City, Philippines

For questions and inquiries, please call the ff #s:

521-75-14

524075-20

DR. ARTURO ESTUITA + 63917 507 58 99