With the popularity of physical examinations, more and more people find that they have plaques in their carotid arteries.
Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of death, and it is also the leading cause of death in China.
01. Is there a way to reverse and regress plaque?
A team of researchers from the Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, found that atherosclerotic plaques have a chance to "regress" if preventive interventions are started at a young or middle-aged age. The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
A total of 3471 participants aged 40 to 55 years were included in the study, and their carotid and femoral arteries were regularly measured using multi-region 3D vascular ultrasound and the associated factors that could cause plaque resolution were assessed.
After 6 years of follow-up studies, the researchers found that 8% of atherosclerosis participants had plaque regression; Plaque regression was inversely associated with elevated LDL cholesterol (commonly known as "bad cholesterol") in smokers, men, older adults, and the elderly.
Among them, for people with new subclinical atherosclerotic plaques (only plaques, not yet to the extent of disease), high "bad cholesterol" is the most closely related risk factor to plaque; Cigarette smoking is the most closely associated cardiovascular risk factor for plaque development and progression.
The investigators point out that subclinical atherosclerosis is more common in young and middle-aged people, especially when "bad cholesterol" and blood pressure are mildly or moderately elevated.
If risk factors are controlled from an early stage, the early stage of atherosclerotic disease can be achieved, i.e., complete regression of plaque.
What factors tend to cause plaque in blood vessels?
Whether or not there is plaque in blood vessels is associated with risk factors for atherosclerosis. There are two main categories of risk factors for atherosclerosis:
1.Uncontrollable risk factors: age, sex, family history, personality.
2.Controllable risk factors: poor diet, smoking, low exercise, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, high body weight.
Eat it often on the table and give your blood vessels a "bath".
How do I know if there is plaque in my blood vessels?
1.People over 50 years old: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound can be done to see if there is arteriosclerosis in the cranial arteries. Carotid ultrasound can also be done to see if there is plaque in the carotid artery, which is a routine test. Conducting annual health check-ups can help achieve early detection, early prevention, and early prevention.
2.Young people: In addition to ultrasonography of plaques, biochemical tests of blood are also important. This includes blood sampling to check lipids, especially elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly known as "bad cholesterol"), which can easily lead to plaque formation. You can also check blood glucose, uric acid, and homocysteine by drawing blood, and if there is an abnormality in the biochemical results, you can intervene as soon as possible.
The key to "reversing plaques" turned out to be them
Early intervention in atherosclerosis.
Age is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis, and at the same time, it is an uncontrollable factor. Therefore, if you can pay attention to the control of atherosclerosis-related risk factors in middle age (after the age of 40) or even earlier, it is important to be able to actively intervene at an early stage to delay the progression of arteriosclerosis and achieve the reversal of atherosclerosis. 02
Control blood lipid levels.
Elevated blood lipids are risk factors for atherosclerosis, particularly elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Therefore, if elevated blood lipids are detected, it is important to intervene aggressively in young and middle-aged adults. 03
Control blood pressure levels.
Elevated systolic blood pressure was another major risk factor for atherosclerosis progression in this study. Blood pressure control in young and middle-aged people should follow the principle of early intervention, and systolic blood pressure exceeding 120 mmHg should be paid attention to. 04
Don't smoke and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Of all the factors that have resolved from atherosclerosis, non-smoking is one of the strongest. Therefore, maintaining a good habit of not smoking is an important factor in protecting the health of blood vessels. In order to achieve the resolution of arteriosclerosis, in addition to not smoking, it is also essential to maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as abstaining from alcohol, eating a healthy diet, actively strengthening exercise, and maintaining a good mental state.
Diet to achieve "three more and three less".
"Three more": 1Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits: It is recommended to eat enough 500 grams of vegetables and 250 grams of fruits every day, and consume 8 kinds of 10 kinds of vegetables per week, garlic, broccoli, spinach, carrots, and peas are preferred.
2.Eat more whole grains: Whole grains, oats, and legumes are rich in soluble dietary fiber, which can reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the blood. If you have bad teeth or stomach problems, you can take 10 grams and 20 grams of ultra-fine wheat bran and inulin every day.
3.Eat more deep-sea fish: Sardines, salmon, tuna and other deep-sea fish and their fish oil are rich in EPA and DHA, which are important omega-3 fatty acids**, and it is advisable to eat 2 times a week 3 times, preferably steamed.
Three less": 1Eat less high-fat foods, such as fatty meats and organ meats.
2.Eat less salt: It is recommended to consume no more than 5 grams of salt per day.
3.Eat less sugar: Eat less sugar, drink less sugary drinks, and eat less pastries with added sugar. You can eat more fruits, but the juice will do it.
Exercise for 150 minutes a week
Exercise is an effective intervention in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, and a post-hoc analysis showed that plaque regression was more pronounced in patients with higher levels of exercise.
Choose an exercise that suits you, and do it regularly, in moderation, and gradually. Generally, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is appropriate, about 30 minutes to 50 minutes each time, 3 times a week 5 times is enough.
Statins can inhibit cholesterol synthesis and lower blood cholesterol levels, which prevents plaque growth. The lower the cholesterol level in the blood, the less likely the plaque will grow. When cholesterol is low to a certain level, plaque can shrink in some patients.
However, not all people who develop carotid plaque need to take statins. If you are older than 50 years and have large plaques that cause significant narrowing of the carotid arteries (more than 50% blockage of blood vessels), you should receive medication promptly**.
If there is no significant stenosis of the carotid artery, or if only mild stenosis occurs, the need for a statin will need to be determined under the guidance of a doctor based on the individual's specific situation, particularly cholesterol levels**. Never self-medicate without a doctor's guidance.
*: CCTV Life Circle).