Treatment of arteriosclerosis
The Response of Modern Medicine
Modern medical treatment of arterioslerosis includes a combination of lifestyle changes and medications to relieve the symptoms, and surgery for severe cases. For example, since smoking constricts arteries, it is recommended that patients stop smoking in order to avoid potentially life-threatening blood clots. Since high cholesterol is a common case of arteriosclerosis, cholesterol-lowering drugs, also called statins, including cholestyramine, colestipol, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, probucol, gemfibrozil or niacin, may be prescribed. Unfortunately these drugs also have potential side effects, some of which can be quite serious, including liver malfunction, fatigue, upset stomach, gas, constipation, abdominal pain or cramps and muscle pain. Additional drug therapy may include pain relievers, blood thinners and medications to enlarge or dilate the affected artery or arteries.High blood pressure can be a serious risk factor when arteriosclerosis involves the heart, referred to as cardiovascular disease. In response, most cardiologists usually prescribe beta-blockers, which lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. The problem with this approach is that beta-blockers slow metabolism, which causes patients to gain weight and be even less inclined to exercise, both of which increase fat deposits. Unfortunately, all of this effectively adds to the underlying problem rather than eliminating it.
More advanced cases of arteriosclerosis that involve the heart may require surgical treatments such as cardiac catherization and angioplasty. Other modern medical treatment options for more serious cases include removing the lining of the artery (endarterectomy), or repairing or replacing the vessel (grafting) via bypass surgery using a vein or a synthetic graft.
The Natural Medicine Approach to Arteriosclerosis
A better approach is to address the underlying cause of the disease by determining why blockages developed in the arteries in the first place. The best theory today about the cause of the initial insult to the lining of the artery (the endothelium) is that it results from some combination of mechanical stress (stretching of the arterial wall, as from high blood pressure, or nicks caused during the process of angiography) and oxidative stress (free radicals released in the process of metabolism that are not neutralized by internal antioxidants).The body attempts to heal all such damage, and under ideal circumstances is able to do so without trouble. However there are many things that can derail normal healing, and cause the beginning of plaque in the vessel wall. Such factors taken in total will predispose the patient to arteriosclerosis, either damaging the artery lining or impairing the body's healing response.
Stressors include hypertension (high blood pressure) and anything that creates it (like stress), and anything that produces more free radicals (like poor diet, smoking, heavy metal toxicity, increased homocysteine levels, elevated blood fats, medications, and excess iron). Healing response interference would come from factors such as inadequate antioxidants, hormonal deficiencies or excesses, other nutritional deficiencies, insulin resistance, elevated blood sugars, increased lipoprotein levels, and increased clotting tendency of the blood.
Thus, the natural medicine doctor's approach involves careful attention to and testing for over 20 modifiable risk factors including the emotional state, non-invasive assessment of the condition of the arterial system, read more
