Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the underlying cause of coronary heart disease. As fatty plaques build up in the arteries of your heart, blood flow to your heart muscle diminishes, and the likelihood of a heart attack increases. According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease claims nearly 500,000 lives in the U.S. each year, making it the leading cause of death. Lifestyle and dietary patterns are the primary forces that lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis Is a Chronic Disease
Atherosclerosis can affect other arteries in your body besides those in your heart. Strokes, kidney failure, aneurysms and claudication, a pain that occurs in the legs of people with poor peripheral circulation, can all result from atherosclerosis. The process that initiates an arterial plaque, progresses to arterial occlusion and finally culminates in organ failure, begins in childhood or adolescence and takes many years to unfold.
Inflammation Is the Trigger
The tissues that line your arteries are delicate, dynamic structures. They are exquisitely sensitive to injury. Even a slight aberration in the mechanical forces that occur along the inner walls of your arteries, such as occurs in people with high blood pressure, can set the stage for atherosclerosis. According to a 2002 article in "Circulation," inflammation resulting from injury to the arterial lining -- no matter the cause of the injury -- is the stimulus that triggers and sustains atherosclerosis.
Culprits in Arterial Injury
Because inflammation is the crucial first step in the formation of atherosclerosis, scientists have spent an enormous amount of energy in identifying the factors that contribute to this process. While genetic factors undoubtedly play a role, everyday exposures to inflammatory stimuli are major determinants. According to Dr. Sota Omoigui in "Immunity and Ageing," oxidized LDL cholesterol, free radicals from smoking and dietary sources, high blood pressure, infectious microorganisms, diabetes and autoimmune conditions are only a few of the potential instigators of atherosclerosis.
Dietary Factors
A high-fat diet or a diet that contains a significant proportion of trans or saturated fats is known to encourage atherosclerosis. While dietary fats supply the building blocks for triglycerides and cholesterol -- both independently linked to heart disease -- their metabolic products also contribute to arterial inflammation. Likewise, a high intake of refined sugars, such as sucrose and high fructose corn syrup, leads to elevated triglyceride levels, insulin resistance and higher blood pressure, all of which are risk factors for atherosclerosis. A 2010 review in "Current Hypertension Reports" contends that Americans' increasing consumption of refined sugars is a primary driving force behind the rising incidence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Recommendations
The American Heart Association suggests that you limit your fat intake to less than 30 percent of your total daily calories. Saturated and trans fats should make up less than 7 percent and 1 percent of total calories, respectively, and your daily cholesterol intake should be limited to 300mg or less. Eat at least four servings each of fruits and vegetables every day, and include as many high-fiber foods as possible in your diet. Whole grains, nuts, legumes and beans should supply most of your protein and carbohydrate needs. Limit sugary foods to fewer than five servings weekly, and eat two servings of oily fish each week. Experts such as Dean Ornish and Caldwell Esselstyn, physicians who regularly care for patients with severe coronary heart disease, urge even lower daily fat intake than the AHA suggests.
References
- American Heart Association: Cardiovascular Disease Statistics
- PubMed.gov: Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
- "Immunity and Ageing"; The Interleukin-6 Inflammation Pathway From Cholesterol to Aging -- Role of Statins, Bisphosphonates and Plant Polyphenols in Aging and Age-Related Diseases; S. Omoigui; Mar. 2007
- PubMed.gov: The Role of High Fructose Corn Syrup in Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension
- HealthCastle.com: Heart Association Revises Diet Recommendations
