Clogged Arteries

Clogged arteries can be identified by many signs. They can also be caused by many diseases. The basic idea remains the same though. Some diseases’ processes can lead to clogging of your arteries, and depending on the artery that is affected, symptoms will change.

One of the most straight forward symptoms you may experience is a sharp shooting pain. If the arteries of the heart (The Coronary Arteries) are affected, chest pain becomes the most obvious symptom.

If the arteries of the legs are involved, as they are very common for smokers and diabetics, your calves may end up feeling like they are burning or being stabbed with a knife.

The feel of an artery may change over time too. You will notice that the radial artery, the artery the doctor uses to check your pulse at your wrist, starts to harden up and feel ‘cord like’ with age. That is a sign that the walls of the artery are getting caked up with cholesterol and the like (clogging).

If the arterial disease affects the legs or the arms, you tend to notice other more subtle symptoms as well. Over time the muscles in the affected limb get weak and noticeably lose their mass. The skin in those regions looks darker and drier. It can get to a point where the skin looks mummified, but that’s an extreme.

These are pretty late symptoms and anyone who reports these symptoms needs evaluation right away.

The most important factor is that there are easier ways to know if you are putting yourself at risk for clogged arteries. If you are at risk then you can change the risk factors.

• Know your cholesterol! If you're simply worried about having a dangerously high cholesterol level without having any practical reason, other than knowing that your life is devoid of exercise and nutrition, you most likely do have time to revert the problem safely. High intensity exercises as well as proper nutritional diet, limiting your cholesterol intake will definitely help you.
• Reduce stress! Another contributing factor may be your levels of stress. Just remember to relax and take breaks that will help you unwind. While taking your blood pressure won't tell you how bad you cholesterol is, it can most definitely be an indicator in whether or not you should be concerned.
• Exercise, exercise and more EXERCISE! Exercise not only prevents the build-up of cholesterol, it also promotes the creation of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) in your blood stream. HDL acts almost like a scrubber for the inside of your arteries. HDL particles can remove or ‘unclog’ arteries to a certain extent.