How to Stop Atherosclerosis and Prevent the Damage That It Causes
Researchers Have Found A Way to Stop Atherosclerosis
Researchers have found a way to stop atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is where plaque builds up inside of your arteries. This is problematic because when there is plaque in your arteries, the blood cannot easily flow through to your heart and brain. The heart and brain need oxygen-rich blood.
Plaque consists of cholesterol, fat, and other substances found in the blood. Excess plaque can lead to heart attacks, coronary artery disease, strokes, and kidney failure. An excess plaque will make the arteries narrow, and prevent blood from going to other parts of the body. Heart disease accounts for 30% of worldwide deaths. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in America.
Promising Study on How to Stop Atherosclerosis In Its Tracks
Researchers from HRI Immunology has discovered that chemokines play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Chemokines are any of a class of cytokines with functions that include attracting white blood cells to sites of infection. Cytokines are cell signaling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection, and trauma.
Dhanaya Ravindran, who was the lead researcher, started to study how atherosclerosis might be prevented by inhibiting chemokines. In this research, it was shown that there was a 45% decrease in atherosclerosis lesions when the chemokine was overexpressed.
These findings support a critical a role in how chemokines can reduce plaque in the arteries.
My name is Phyllis Robinson MSN, RN. I have been a Registered Nurse for 27 years in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. I am passionate about cardiac care and heart disease. I also want this blog to be an educational tool that people can refer to for traditional and alternative treatment. I will blog on heart disorders such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and high cholesterol.
I received my Nursing degree from Baltimore Community College.
I went on to receive my Masters in Nursing from Walden University
I have worked for almost 30 years in Critical Care with a focus on heart health. I am an advocate of preventive healthcare.
