Prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis should start from now

With the continuous development of society, people's material life has become quite rich, but what comes with it is the frequent occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. Among all cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis is the most deadly. It is mainly caused by people's heavy smoking and unhealthy diet. So how should atherosclerosis be prevented and treated?

Let's first look at what atherosclerosis is.

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction and peripheral vascular disease. Lipid metabolism disorder is the pathological basis of atherosclerosis. Its characteristic is that the lesions of the affected arteries start from the intima, generally first with accumulation of lipids and complex carbohydrates, bleeding and thrombosis, followed by hyperplasia of fibrous tissue and calcification, and gradual degeneration and calcification of the middle layer of the artery, leading to thickening and hardening of the arterial wall and narrowing of the vascular lumen. The lesions often involve large and medium muscular arteries. Once they develop to the point where they block the arterial lumen, the tissues or organs supplied by the arteries will become ischemic or necrotic. Because the lipid accumulation in the intima of the arteries has a yellow porridge-like appearance, it is called atherosclerosis.

1. Primary prevention

It is recommended to eat a light diet and eat more foods rich in vitamin C (such as fresh vegetables, fruits and melons) and plant protein (such as beans and their products); do not smoke or drink strong alcohol; maintain an optimistic attitude and a relaxed and happy mood; people aged 40 and above should have a physical examination at least once a year; starting from childhood, it is not advisable to eat a diet high in cholesterol and high in animal fat, and overeating should be avoided to prevent obesity.

2. Secondary prevention

Actively treat diseases related to this disease, such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, gout, diabetes, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome and related endocrine diseases. Use aspirin for life as an antithrombotic drug, use statins for a long time or for life, and actively use angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.