Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of the Arteries): Prevention

To prevent atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.

Behavioral risk factors

  • Diet
    • Malnutrition and overeating, e.g., excessive caloric intake and high-fat diet (high intake of saturated fat).
    • Excessive consumption of red meat, ie. Muscle meat of pork, beef, lamb, veal, mutton, horse, sheep, goat → increase in biogenic amine TMAO (trimethylamine oxide) by 3-fold; patients with the highest concentrations (top quarter) were 2.5 times more likely to develop myocardial infarction or apoplexy or die in subsequent yearsIndication: Carnitine present in red meat is metabolized in the intestine by bacteria to trimethylamine, which is converted to trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) after absorption in the liver.
    • Sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages (≥ 1,000 ml/week); more frequent coronary calcification (CAC score > 0) on cardiac CT than in comparable individuals who largely avoid soda.
    • Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see prevention with micronutrients.
  • Consumption of stimulants
    • Alcohol (woman: > 40 g/day; man: > 60 g/day) → hypertriglyceridemia (elevated blood triglyceride levels).
    • Tobacco (smoking, passive smoking) – smoking is one of the central risk factors for atherosclerosis and thus for all cardiovascular diseases
  • Drug use
    • Cannabis (hashish and marijuana)? – A long-term study suggests that tobacco smoke, not cannabis use, is the main trigger of atherosclerosis.
  • Physical activity
    • Physical inactivity
  • Psycho-social situation
    • Psychological stress
    • Stress
    • Sleep duration ≤ 6 hours vs. 7-8 hours of sleep (+27% increased risk of vascular plaque formation)
  • Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity).
  • Android body fat distribution, that is, abdominal/visceral, truncal, central body fat (apple type) – there is a high waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio (THQ; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)); increased abdominal fat has a strong atherogenic effect and promotes inflammatory processes (“inflammatory processes”)When measuring waist circumference according to the International Diabetes Federation guideline (IDF, 2005), the following standard values apply:
    • Men < 94 cm
    • Women < 80 cm

    The German Obesity Society published somewhat more moderate figures for waist circumference in 2006: < 102 cm for men and < 88 cm for women. For postmenopausal women, waist-to-hip ratio is a better predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis than body mass index or waist circumference

Environmental exposure – intoxications (poisonings).

  • Air pollutants: particulate matter

Prevention factors (protective factors)

  • Anti-inflammation (anti-inflammation).