Arteriosclerosis

Description

Otherwise known as "hardening of the arteries," arteriosclerosis is characterised by the thickening of artery walls, causing the artery to lose elasticity and become hardened. This decreases the amount of blood the artery can transport, forcing the heart to pump harder to carry nutrients and oxygen to body tissues. Symptoms of arteriosclerosis include Hypertension, Headaches, colour change, bruit (an abnormal sound heard in an artery), and shortness of breath upon exertion.

The condition may be caused by a combination of factors, notably age, the Western lifestyle, high Stress, low physical activity, and genetics.

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Herbs

Ginkgo biloba (9)
Hawthorn (7)

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Nutritional Supplements

Bioflavonoids (1)
Calcium (2)
Coenzyme Q10 (3)
Magnesium (4)
Selenium (5)
Vitamin A
Beta Carotene (8)
Vitamin C (1)
Vitamin E (6)

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References

1. Osilesi O, et al. Blood pressure and plasma lipids during ascorbic acid supplementation in borderline hypertensive and normotensive adults. Nutr Res 1991; 11:405-12.
2. McCarron D, et al. Dietary Calcium and blood pressure: Modifying factors in specific populations. Am J Clin Nutr 1991; 54:215S-19S.
3. Yamagami T, et al. Bioenergetics in clnical medicine: Studies on coenzyme Q-10 and essential Hypertension. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1975; 11:273.
4. Moore T. The role of dietary electrolytes in Hypertension. J Am Coll Nutr 1989; 8:Suppl S:68S-80S.
5. J. Salonen, et al. Blood pressure, dietary fats, and Antioxidants. Am J Clin Nutr 1988; 48:1226-32.
6. Gey KF, et al. Inverse correlation between plasma Vitamin E and mortality from ischemic heart disease in cross-cultural epidemiology. Amer J Clin Nutri 1991; 53:326S-334S.
7. Murray M and Pizzorno J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing :1991, 383.
8. Shaish A, et al: Beta Carotene inhibits Atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, Journal of Clinical Investigations, 96(4), Oct 1995, p 2075-2082.
9. Bauer U: 6-month double-blind randomized clinical trial of Ginkgo biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel groups in patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency, Arzneimittelforschung, 34(6), 1984, p 716-720.