You (Probably) Already Have Irreversible Plaque In Your Arteries

I have been deep in the weeds of journals and research papers working on a new long post on the slow and deadly process that leads to heart attacks and stroke. Scary stuff, can’t wait to share it with you. Anyway, I came across something I feel I ought to share immediately with my readers.?

Heart attack and stroke (ischemic stroke, to be specific) happen when a clot blocks an artery that carries blood to your heart or brain. This clot comes from a ruptured plaque in the arteries.?

Plaque is the build up of mostly cholesterol on the walls of your arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. This buildup happens over many years, steadily causing blood pressure to rise. Over time, if you don't live an optimal lifestyle, the risk of a clot breaking free and blocking an artery goes up.?

So here’s the bad news: you likely already have plaque in your arteries. Yes, even if you are a twenty something reading this. That’s not all: that plaque is there to stay. Arterial plaque is (mostly) irreversible.?

I know that’s scary considering that heart attack and stroke are the biggest and third biggest killers globally according to the WHO.

Plaque Starts Forming at an Early Age?

But wait, I thought only older people suffered from clogged arteries? Not quite.?

Plaque in arteries begins to build up right from childhood and accumulates over the years. The build-up is slow, which is why the average age for the first heart attack is 65 years for men and 72 years for women.

That said, there is an increase of heart attack cases in people under 40 years, pointing to a faster buildup of plaque in arteries.?

Can You Clear Plaque from Arteries??

Unfortunately, once plaque has formed, it is not possible to get rid of it. Making lifestyle changes such as a healthier diet and being more active can, possibly, reverse or shrink some of the buildup. But based on the research we have so far, most of the plaque that forms is there to stay.

There are claims that some supplements such as vitamin K2 can reverse atherosclerosis. But the evidence is murky. Same goes for the claim that fasting can clear plaque via autophagy. Evidence is limited, but probably worth a try (under a doctor’s supervision).??

Generally, what eating healthier and exercising more does is slow down further build-up of plaque in arteries. The good news is that these changes are usually enough to drastically reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.?

Even medication doesn't fully unclog arteries. It reduces build up and stabilizes existing plaque to reduce the risk of a clot breaking loose.?

The only way to remove significant plaque from arteries is via surgery (atherectomy). But this is recommended only for people with severe buildup.???

How to Prevent/Slow Down Plaque Buildup in Arteries?

To be honest, there is no big secret. It’s all the usual stuff doctors have been telling us about for years.?

Exercise, a healthier diet full of veggies, legumes, grains, fruits, fish and lean meats, getting adequate sleep and cutting out smoking.?

In our upcoming deep dive into atherosclerosis, we are going to talk about these factors in more detail, specifically how they lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of a blocked artery.?

Stay healthy and talk to you soon.?