Clogging Up Of Arteries - Tackle It Before It Happens

Prevention is better than cure.  This simple principle is applicable to everything concerning us, including health matters. Clogging up of arteries is one of the most deadly and common problems related to health that we face these days.  Most people are ignorant on how this happens, why this happens and what are the best measures to prevent this from occurring.  This ignorance is the biggest reason why people die in millions around the world due to heart attacks and other related issues every year. 

Good eating habits and lifestyle practices can help prevent this, but we also need to know about the most effective ways to unclog arteries, in case clogging occurs.  There are three types of arteries in the body that can become clogged.  These are the coronary arteries, carotid arteries and the peripheral arteries.  Clogging up of any of these would result in life-threatening situations. 

Medical science, of late, has advanced so much and as such, there are several types of effective steps available to detect problems in the artery.  It is always better to undergo such tests periodically, after you cross a certain age, to ensure that no impending threat to your heart exists.  The most common and effective diagnostic measures available now are ultrasound, stress tests and angiogram. 

Ultrasound is a non-invasive and simple process that is best suited for people who are doubtful about the condition of their arteries.  In simple terms, we can call it the artery check-up, which is a great tactic to prevent the advent of serious arterial clogs.  It is no wonder that the number of people resorting to this test is increasing day by day. 

Another effective method is the stress test, which is done clinically with the help of a treadmill or similar stress-inducing gadgets.  The subject is made to walk on the mill after attaching wires to his or her body. Once the mill is started, the heart rates would increase, and the doctor would assess, with the help of modern machinery, how the blood vessels and the heart are functioning under the increased work load.  Those unable to use treadmills are put on chemical stress tests, which are almost equally effective. 

Then comes angiogram, which is an invasive test administered on patients suffering from acute artery blockage problems.  The process involves making an incision in the groin area and sending a camera to the heart through the slit.  Colored dye is induced into the blood stream, which helps medical experts to probe into each and every artery leading to the heart.  This method is very effective and can help pinpoint the problem area accurately.  If at all a block exists in any arteries, angioplasty, which is the process of opening up the blocked area with a balloon, is done immediately. 

Even though these medical procedures are available to detect and cure arterial blockages, it is always better not to allow your arteries from getting clogged.  Good eating and lifestyle practices like consuming foods that prevent forming of bad cholesterol, exercising regularly, ingesting enough water and giving preference to foods that provide good cholesterol to the body would greatly enhance the health of your heart, and in turn, your longevity.