Today, New Year's Day, the first day of 2024, we are going to talk about a seemingly distant but really related problem to our lives - carotid plaque.
As we all know, our carotid arteries are the main channels that carry blood to the brain. However, with age and lifestyle changes, some people's carotid arteries will harden and carotid plaques will gradually appear
The formation of carotid plaques usually involves the process of hardening the arteries. Arteriosclerosis is a chronic, progressive vascular disease that is mainly affected by a variety of factors, including lifestyle, genetics and age, underlying diseases, etc
Endothelium is damaged:It all starts in the lining of blood vessels, which is the layer of cells inside the walls of blood vessels, called the endothelium. The endothelium maintains the normal function of blood vessels, but it is prone to problems when damaged, such as due to high blood pressure, smoking, high blood sugar, etc.
Lipid accumulation:The damaged endothelium releases chemicals that attract white blood cells and other inflammatory factors. These white blood cells gradually infiltrate the artery wall. At the same time, low-density lipoprotein (LDL, commonly known as "bad cholesterol") can also seep into the damaged area and begin to deposit in the artery wall.
Formation of plaques:Lipids, cholesterol, and other cellular components gradually form fixed deposits within the artery walls, forming structures called arterial plaques. This process is similar to limescale that forms in water pipes, but it occurs within the blood vessels.
Calcification and plaque stabilization:Over time, some parts of the plaque may calcify, making the plaque hard and stable. This process is also part of arteriosclerosis.
Plaque rupture:In some cases, plaque may rupture, releasing substances inside it into the bloodstream. This can cause thrombosis, partially or completely blocking the artery.
Ischemic and vascular events:Ischemia can occur when plaque blocks adequate blood flow, which can trigger a heart attack, stroke, or other vascular event.
1.Eat sensibly and stay away from high-fat foods
To eat healthily, try to limit your intake of high-fat foods. Did you know?Eating too greasy can cause fat to accumulate on the walls of the blood vessels, leading to the formation of plaque. Eat more fruits and vegetables to keep your body refreshed.
2.Be active and let your body fly
Get moving, get moving!We need to exercise more, this is a great treasure to reduce plaque. Teacher Liang recommends maintaining at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day, such as walking and jogging, which can promote blood circulation and make plaque nowhere to hide.
3.Control your weight and protect the health of your blood vessels
The teacher taught everyone a trick: maintain a proper weight. Obesity is a good partner for carotid plaque. We should always pay attention to our diet, control our weight, and protect the health of our blood vessels.
4.Quit smoking and limit alcohol, and give your blood vessels a "big cleaning".
Don't smoke and drink less. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage the walls of blood vessels. Quit smoking, limit alcohol, and give our blood vessels a "big cleaning" so that they are kept unobstructed and not easy to form plaque.
5.Regular physical examinations, early detection**
Students, you should always pay attention to your physical condition. Regular check-ups can help us detect problems early and carry them out early**. If we find that there are problems such as arteriosclerosis, we can deal with them in time, just like preparing for the exam, and can better protect our brains.
Carotid plaque is a problem that we can't ignore, but with a few small life adjustments, we can completely mitigate the risk. Remember Mr. Liang's advice: eat reasonably, exercise actively, control weight, quit smoking and limit alcohol, and have regular physical examinations. Let's protect our carotid arteries together and stay away from this "heavy" problem!
I am Mr. Liang, to learn more about diabetes, pay attention to WeChat*** Mr. Liang talks about sugar, and on the road to lower diabetes, we will work together.