Antidepressants Blog

Arteriosclerosis is a hardening of the walls of the arteries. The blood vessels, which are usually elastic, fairly thin and soft, become rigid, thickened and hardened in many people as they grow older. Hardening of the arteries is one of the leading causes of death. The exact cause is not known.Hardening of the walls of the arteries is frequently associated with high blood pressure, but may not be itself the cause of high blood pressure. The current theory of the cause of hardening of the arteries is a congenital disposition toward the condition associated with the overeating of fatty foods and the taking-in of excessive amounts of cholesterol. Specific treatment for hardening of the arteries is not established. Doctors generally recommend good hygiene, the avoidance of excesses of all kinds, and particularly freedom from stress and worry. Usually more attention is paid to controlling the manifestations of high blood pressure than to the hardening of the blood vessels.Most of the symptoms of hardening of the arteries are related to the high blood pressure. These include occasional attacks of dizziness, drowsiness and ringing in the ears; sometimes changes in the blood vessels of the legs and interference with the circulation produce cramping, blueness of the tissues, and other signs of a lack of sufficient circulation.People who advocate cholesterol-free diets eliminate milk, butter, cream, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products, mayonnaise, fried foods, gravies, pastries and many other substances. Incidentally, it is practically impossible to maintain a completely fat-free and cholesterol-free diet. Especially recommended are vegetable oils like corn oil, peanut oil, cottonseed and safflower oil which are polyunsaturated fats.*11/318/5*