Atherosclerosis is a medical condition occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body, arteries become thick and stiff sometimes restricting blood flow to the organs and tissues, also called atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Plaque is a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances. Plaque builds up your artery wall grows thicker and harder, this hardening of the arteries is usually silent process in the early stages. Sometimes this plaque gets break down leading to formation of blood clot. It is a slow process due to which the symptoms are not noticeable in the early stage. The arteries get hardened and stiff and there reaches less blood to the organs and tissues. The constant force of blood flow can lead to plaque erosion or rupture causing a blood clot to form.
Causes of atherosclerosis-
Following are the reason which can be responsible for it-
- Increased levels of cholesterol in blood
- High levels of triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- Suffering from diabetes
- Cigarette smoking
- Tobacco chewing
- Any inflammatory condition in body such as lupus, psoriasis, arthritis
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
Risk factors -
Some factors make a person more prone to atherosclerosis. Following are the risk factors of atherosclerosis:
- Having a family history of atherosclerosis
- Increasing age
- Lack of physical exercise
- Being obese
- Eating oily and junk food
- Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Sleep apnea
- Metabolic syndrome
Signs and symptoms-
The common signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis are:
- Pain in chest
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in chest
- Heart palpitations
- Pain in back, shoulders, arms or neck
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Feeling tired
- Indigestion
- Abdominal bloating
- Diarrhea
- Burning pain in feet
- Changes in skin color
- High blood pressure
- Sweating
- Swelling in body
- Headache
- Changes in color of urine
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Numbness in arms and legs
- Kidney failure
Complications-
Complications of atherosclerosis depend on the part of body in which arteries get narrowed or blocked. Following are the several complications which are associated with atherosclerosis:
- Coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Aneurysm
- Carotid artery disease
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
Prevention-
Following are the preventive measures of atherosclerosis:
- Eating healthy food
- Doing regular physical exercise
- Maintaining healthy weight
- Say no to smoking
- Avoid alcohol consumption
- Yoga
- Meditation
Management of atherosclerosis according to ayurveda –
In ayurveda artherosclerosis is caused due to vitiation of kapha dosha. When kapha dosha is vitiated it enhances accumulation of ama in the body, which affects circulation, accumulation of kapha dosha affects meda dhatu and agni and meda dhatu leading to decrease in metabolic function at dhatu level. This decrease leads to excess od meda dhatu as subcutaneous fat or fat that surrounds organs, then this excess of meda dhatu encroaches rakta dhatu and gets accumulated in rakta vaha srotas and begins to block vyana vayu that carries blood from heart to peripheral tissues, due to this blockage, blood pressure increases leading to atherosclerosis.
Pathya or diet-
- Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and obesity
- After a heavy meal avoids large meals and rich foods that leave feeling stuffed
- Exercise as directed by physician
- Lose weight if overweight
- Quit smoking
- With stress try to avoid situations that patient upset or stressed
- With exertion slow down or take rest in breaks.
Panchkarma treatment –
- Vamana
- Virechana
- Vasti
Herbs-
- Bala
- Shunthi
- Nagabala
- Arjun chaal
- Guggulu
- Pushkarmoola
Yoga-
- Tadasana
- Vrikshasana
- Veerabhadrasana
- Ardha matsyendrasana
CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE’S MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Here are some of the medications of Chandigarh Ayurved centre which are used for the treatment of atherosclerosis:
1. Garlic Capsule
This is an ayurvedic preparation which contains pure garlic extract (Allium sativum). The capsule helps in the reduction of deposition of dangerous cholesterol on the artery wall and helps in the prevention of heart diseases.
Recommended Dosage- Take 2 tablets twice daily with normal water.
2. Active Plus Tablet
Active plus Tablet is a pure herbo-mineral formulation prepared from best quality of herbs. This tablet is best for person mental and physical health, also helps to boost up the immunity. The herbal ingredients present in these tablets are used to maintain person’s health and refreshes the mind and body. These tablets improves digestion, eliminates constipation, stress, nourishes brain, acts as antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, etc.
Recommended Dosage – Take 2 tablets twice daily with normal water.
3. Detox Premium Powder
This ayurvedic formulation contains Moti pishti, Prawal pishti, Shukta pishti, Giloy satv, Kamdudha rasa, Jahar mohra, Akik pishti, Gandhak rasayan, Tal sindoor, Sudhyog tab, Shwet parpati, Yavakshaar, etc. This helps in clearing the body toxins, improves digestion, reduces stress and anxiety, act as an anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, etc.
Recommended Dosage – Take 1 sachet twice daily with normal water.
4. Trikatu Syrup
Trikatu syrup is best in pacifying Vata and Kapha dosha, and improves respiratory functions, helps in digestion, removes impurities from the body, reduces risk of atherosclerosis, and treats skin infections. This syrup is a mixture of Black pepper (Piper nigrum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Long pepper (Piper longum), which acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants, etc.
Recommended Dosage – Take 2 tablespoonful twice daily.
5. Cholesterol Care tablet
Cholesterol care is pure herbo- mineral ayurvedic medicine which help to maintain healthy range of cholesterol levels. Its main function is to strengthen heart, have check on hypertension & rejuvenates the heart by regulating heart and control cholesterol level.
Recommended Dosage– Take 1 tablet twice daily.
6. Herbal tea
Herbal tea relieves stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, reduces infections, rejuvenates tissues, cures cough and cold, and removes impurities from the body. It is an ayurvedic preparation that consists of Arjun chal (Terminalia arjuna),Tejpatra (Cinnamomum tamala), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra),Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Nagarmotha (Cyperus cariosus), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Kulanjan (Alpinia galanga), etc. The ingredients help in maintaining the blood circulation in the whole body.
Recommended Dosage-Take 2 cups of herbal tea twice daily.
