Atherosclerosis is a medical term that means blockage or hardening of the arteries. This problem is a common cause of heart disease, namely blockage or narrowing of the arteries due to fatty compounds so that blood cannot flow smoothly and carry oxygen. Arterial blockages can occur in the heart, brain, kidneys, intestines, arms, or legs. Knowing the symptoms of blocked arteries is important, especially if you have risk factors. That way, you can get medical help as soon as possible.
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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing Common Symptoms of Arterial Blockage
Step 1. Observe the symptoms of a heart attack
Specific symptoms may signal the onset of a heart attack. In this attack, oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the heart muscle. If the heart does not get oxygen-rich blood, some of it can die. However, the degree of damage to the heart muscle can be reduced if you get medical treatment in the hospital within an hour of starting to experience symptoms. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- Tightness or sensation of heaviness in the chest
- Sweating or cold sweat
- Sensation of sebah or full
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Head dizzy
- Dizzy
- Weak
- Worried
- Fast pulse or irregular heart rhythm
- Hard to breathe
- Pain that radiates to the arm
- Pain is commonly described as pressure or tightness in the chest, not sharp pain.
- Note that in women, the elderly, and people with diabetes, a heart attack is often not accompanied by the usual symptoms, and may even present with completely different symptoms. However, fatigue is common.
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of blocked arteries in the kidneys
Symptoms of blocked arteries in the kidneys are different from the symptoms of blocked arteries in other parts of the body. You may have a blocked kidney artery if you have: uncontrollable high blood pressure, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, itchy skin, or difficulty concentrating.
- If the renal artery is completely blocked, you may have persistent fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in your lower back or abdomen.
- If the blockage is in a small artery and is located in the renal artery, there may also be a blockage in an artery in other parts of your body, such as your fingers, toes, brain, or intestines.
Step 3. See a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms
Even if you're not entirely sure there's a blockage in your artery, it's always better to be on the alert than to regret it later. Call your doctor and describe your symptoms. Your doctor may ask you to undergo an examination at their clinic or visit the nearest emergency room.
Step 4. Do not move and move if medical help does not arrive immediately
Rest until medical help arrives. By not moving, you and reduce the need for oxygen and the work of the heart muscle.
If you suspect you are having a heart attack, chew 325 mg aspirin tablets after calling the emergency room. If you only have low-dose aspirin tablets, take 4 81 mg aspirin tablets. Chewing the tablet before swallowing will speed up the effects of the aspirin
Method 2 of 3: Undergo Arterial Blockage Examination
Step 1. Have a heart scan and blood tests to find blocked arteries
Your doctor may ask you to have a blood test to determine the content of certain sugars, cholesterol, calcium, fat, and protein in them that can increase the risk of atherosclerosis and clogged arteries.
- Your doctor may also order an electrocardiogram to record electrical signals that are an indicator of whether you've had a heart attack before or are currently having one.
- Your doctor may also ask you to undergo scans including an echocardiogram, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the work of the heart, see blocked channels in the heart, and look for images of calcium deposits that cause narrowing or blockage of the heart arteries.
- A stress test may also be done. This test allows doctors to measure blood flow to the heart muscle under stressful conditions.
Step 2. Get a kidney function test to see if your kidney arteries are blocked
Your doctor may order tests to measure your serum creatinine level, glomerular filtration rate, and blood urea nitrogen level to evaluate kidney function. All three are different tests on a urine sample. Ultrasound and CT scans may also be used to look for blocked arteries and calcium deposits.
Step 3. Get tested for peripheral artery disease
Peripheral artery disease is a circulatory system problem, i.e. narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing of the arteries will reduce blood circulation to the limbs. One of the simplest tests is to have your doctor compare the pulses in both legs during a routine examination. You are at high risk of developing this disease if:
- Be less than 50 years old, have diabetes, and have at least one of the following: smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.
- Over 50 years of age and suffering from diabetes.
- Be 50 years of age or older and previously smoked.
- 70 years or older.
- Experiencing one or more of the following symptoms: pain in the soles of the feet or toes that interferes with sleep, having sores on the skin of the soles of the feet or feet that take longer to heal (more than 8 weeks), and tiredness, sensation of heaviness, or fatigue in the muscles of the feet, calves, and buttocks on exertion, but improves after rest.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Arterial Blockage
Step 1. Understand the cause
Although many people believe that the fatty compounds that clog arteries are caused by excess cholesterol, this assumption is actually much simpler than the size of the cholesterol molecule varies. Cholesterol is needed by the body to form vitamins, hormones, and other chemical transmitters. Researchers have found that although certain cholesterol molecules are harmful to the heart and cause clogged arteries, sugars and carbohydrates that trigger an inflammatory response in the body are important precursors of atherosclerosis.
- Even though you've been trying to stay away from saturated fats to reduce your cholesterol levels and your risk of atherosclerosis and clogged arteries, you may be taking the wrong step. Eating healthy saturated fats is not scientifically linked to heart disease and clogged arteries.
- In contrast, a diet rich in fructose, high in sugar-low in fat, and whole grains has been linked to dyslipidemia, which causes clogged arteries. Fructose is found in drinks, fruit, jelly, jam, and other sweetened foods.
Step 2. Follow a healthy diet rich in healthy saturated fats, low in sugar, fructose, and carbohydrates
Carbohydrates will be metabolized into sugar in the body and will also increase the inflammatory response. The high sugar, fructose and carbohydrate content will increase your risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes will increase the risk of clogged arteries.
This also includes not consuming a lot of alcoholic beverages
Step 3. Quit smoking
The number of components in cigarettes that trigger atherosclerosis and clogged arteries is not known with certainty. However, researchers know that smoking is a major risk factor for inflammation, thrombosis, and low-density lipoprotein oxidation, all of which play a role in artery blockage.
Step 4. Keep your weight within the normal range
Increasing weight will increase your risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes, in turn, will increase the risk of clogged arteries.
Step 5. Exercise regularly 30 minutes every day
Lack of exercise is one of the factors that play a role in 90% of the risk of heart disease in men, and 94% in women. Heart disease and heart attack are just two of the problems caused by clogged arteries.
Step 6. Try to reduce stress
Another factor that plays a role in clogged arteries is stress levels. Remember to relax and rest to reduce stress. Although blood pressure measurements cannot measure cholesterol levels in the body, you can use this indicator to estimate your health.
Step 7. Consult medicine with doctor
Your doctor may prescribe a statin drug to reduce plaque accumulation in the arteries. This class of drugs will cause the body to stop producing cholesterol in the hope that the cholesterol that has accumulated in the arteries will be absorbed.
- Statin drugs cannot be used by everyone. However, if you have diabetes, heart disease, have high cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL or more), or are at high risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years, your doctor may recommend taking this medication.
- Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor).
Tips
- Preventing or delaying the onset of arterial blockage requires dietary and lifestyle changes. However, these changes will have a positive impact in the long run, namely better health and greater potential for you to enjoy life.
- Watch for signs of clogged arteries and ask your doctor to examine you if you suspect that an unhealthy diet is increasing your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Early diagnosis and treatment will help prevent you from more severe symptoms.
Warning
- Although clogged arteries often cause the most problems at the point of accumulation, these deposits on the artery walls can break off and stop blood flow to the brain or heart, causing a heart attack or stroke.
- Blockage of arteries in the heart can cause angina. Angina is chronic pain in the chest that gets better after resting. Nonetheless, this problem must be addressed and addressed as it can lead to a heart attack.
