The blood vessels that are involved in carrying oxygenated blood are referred to as arteries. The arteries are involved in carrying the oxygenated blood all through the body starting from the heart. In healthy conditions, the arteries have smooth inner walls and their blood flow through them with ease. There are incidents where the occlusion of the arteries occur, narrowing the artery. The main cause of the artery clogging is a thrombus and atherosclerosis. This is due to the formation of plaques from the various substances that circulate in the blood such as the fat, calcium, fibrin, and cellular waste. The development of a plaque in the arteries causes the cells in the arteries walls to multiply and secrete more substances that make the state of the arteries worse. The formation of a plaque on the interior side of the arteries through atherosclerosis results to a partial blockage of these arteries. These arteries hence have a reduced rate of blood flow or may experience blockage altogether (WebMD).
Clogged arteries have the tendency of resulting in heart attack, stroke development and even death. Having clogged arteries may result in the development of heart diseases. Heart diseases are those diseases that affect both the heart and blood vessel and are in most cases related to the process of atherosclerosis. These diseases are also known as cardiovascular diseases. They include the coronary, carotid, stroke and peripheral artery diseases (Mayo Clinic).
The most exposed individuals to heart diseases are those who eat certain types of fat that result in increased blood cholesterol. Cholesterol refers to the crucial structural component found in the cell membrane. In the cell membrane, cholesterol results in the establishment of proper membrane fluidity as well as permeability. Not all the cholesterol types found in the blood are bad. There is cholesterol that is referred to as good cholesterol while others as bad cholesterols (WebMD). The low-density lipoproteins are the ones that are called the bad cholesterol and are the ones that result in the formation of plaques. On the other hand, the high-density lipoproteins are the good cholesterols and help in the reduction of the bad cholesterol in the blood by transporting it back to the liver. This results in the lowered rate of plaque formation.
There is a strong relation between increased amounts of cholesterol and the occurrence of heart disease. When the levels of cholesterol are high in the blood, this cholesterol combines with other substances in the blood leading to plaque formation. The formed plaque is then deposited on the artery walls. The deposited plaque results in the arteries narrowing and this makes them less flexible. The plaques may form clots in the blood blocking the arteries and finally heart diseases such as stroke or heart attack.
The other groups of people in danger of heart disease are those who are obese. Those people who are obese have an increased level of fat in their body that may result in the development of plaques in the body. This makes those people who are obese more vulnerable to heart disease that those people who are not obese (Eckel). People with hypertension have an increased chance of developing heart disease. High blood pressure over a given time may result in the destruction of the walls of the blood vessels. This caused the vessels to have scars that may promote the building up of fatty plaque. The plaques can then cause the narrowing of the arteries and finally block the arteries. Hypertension can also result to bursting of the vessels in the blood causing stroke (Heart and Stroke Foundation).
Age is another essential factor that contributes to heart disease. The aged are at a higher risk of heart disease development than those who are young. It is known that about 87 percent of those who die from coronary heart disease are of the age of 60 or older. The risk of having stroke also doubles after every 10 years after 55 years of age (WHO).
Other than factors such as obesity and hypertension, there are other behaviors that are associated with increased chances of developing heart diseases. These behaviors include lack of physical activities, having stress, eating an unhealthy diet, depression and smoking. Direct or indirect smoking exposes people to carbon dioxide, which is a major competitor of oxygen in the blood. The carbon monoxide may also trigger the formation of plaque in the arteries as well as blood clots. The formation of clots as well as the plaques results in an increased risk of developing heart diseases (WebMD).
In order to prevent clogged arteries, there is a need to change a number of habits. These include stop the habit of smoking, making dietary changes that will help in cholesterol reduction, start physical exercise activities, and have regular medical checkups and reducing instances that may result to stress. Physical exercise helps in the reduction of arteries that are clogged through the reduction of cholesterol and fat amount in the blood stream. This lowers the pressure of blood reducing chances of having heart disease (Myers).
Works Cited
Eckel, Robert H. "Obesity and Heart Disease." Circulation 96.6 (1997): 3248-3250.
Heart and Stroke Foundation. Getting your blood pressure in check. 2012. 19 May 2013. <http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484023/>.
Mayo Clinic. "Heart disease." 2012. 19 May 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DS01120>.
Myers, Hannah Rice. How to Prevent Clogged Arteries. 2011. 19 May 2013. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/196847-how-to-prevent-clogged-arteries/>.
WebMD. Clogged Arteries (Arterial Plaque). 2013. 19 May 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/clogged-arteries-arterial-plaque>.
WHO. "Risk factors." 2004. 19 May 2013. <http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/cvd_atlas_03_risk_factors.pdf>.
