Peripheral vascular disease

This condition due to partial or complete occlusion of blood flow to skeletal muscles, generally in the lower extremities. It can range from a moderate walking pain, an intermittent claudication, muscle pain at rest and in severe cases gangrene.

The first two can be solved with non-invasive treatments, however the last two require surgery.

Generally the peripheral vascular disease, defined as muscle pain ischemia is caused by the formation of atheromas (plaques formed from cholesterol) in the walls of arteries and symptoms occur during physical activity, achieving relief after a few minutes of break time.

As mentioned elsewere risk factors are, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension.

Few plants have shown a more or less immediate benefit.

Garlic (Allium sativum) some preparations have shown, after a prolonged consumption of high amounts, plaques growth arrest and even a slight decline.

Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtilus) a diet containing blueberry powder showed control in atheroma formation in mice deficient in apolipoprotein E, which regulates the formation of these plaques in the arteries.

Crategus (Crataegus monogyna) seed extracts in combination with cayenne extracts, have managed to slowly decrease cholesterol deposits on artery walls, according to a published work. Cayenne helps regulate cholesterol and blood lipids.

Emblica (Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica), fresh juice administered daily for 60 days achieved substantial reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides also have achieved a reduction in size of atheromatous plaques.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). Standardized extracts low in ginkgolides are recommended. Containing glycosides, flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol and others. Improves blood circulation, especially microcirculation. Improves blood circulatory properties and antagonizes the platelet activating factor.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisa) cholesterol lowering properties of blood and dissolving existing plaques in artery walls, are been published recently.

Dog-rose (Rosa roxburghii) on experiences with rabbits, the juice reduced the thickness of the total area of ​​the plates and serum cholesterol compared with controls.

Olive oil (Olea europaea) has been described as beneficial for cases of arterial atheromas. Is described  a property of reducing blood cholesterol levels when administered for several months, orally.

My own experience

Personally I have an atheromatous plaque in the right external iliac artery, the main artery of blood supply to the leg muscles. Due to this problem, if I walk about 3 blocks up hill, I must stop to rest a few minutes. The muscles legs are sleepy and weak.

After five minutes I recover almost completely the muscles strenght and I can continue normally. If the walk is flat or downhill, I can walk, almost without noticing problrms, 15 to 20 blocks. Running or climbing stairs, is a real issue, very difficult to do normally.

Since the appearance of this problem more than five years ago, the improvement has been slow. This improvement may be due to two main causes. The building up of a "collateral" irrigation, small arteries ranging from before to after injury (natural bypass type) or a very slow decrease in the size of the plate, due to the changes achieved by medication, the new diet and the exercise.

The real choice is surgery to replace the piece of artery. Given the difficulties that this could lead, in the area to intervene and considering that I can continue my normal activities with few drawbacks, I prefer to follow this slow process.

So far I've experimented with a few plants, first with grapefruit (Citrus paradisa). For several months I have consumed juices, smoothies and whole fruit (obviously sweetened).

No visible results. Then I consumed one serving (2 tablespoons) of olive oil almost continuously for one year, with no apparent result, except a different expression on my face (for its flavor).

And for the past 6 months I have been using another problematic functional food (also due to its flavor), apple cider vinegar. In this case I can say that I have noticed an improvement, not too important, but improvement at the end. In fact I am negotiating with my medical coverage to fulfill myself a new Eco-Doppler and really evaluate what I'm experiencing.

A light in the track

For several months I have been taking capsules of Omega 3 fish oil.

I have noticed an improvement in my intermittent claudication problem.

It seems much for so little, more thinking it's an injury that has several years and almost no improvement since the beginning. That is, within a few weeks of being diagnosed noticed an improvement in symptoms, almost certainly due to the formation of collateral circulation helped by increased exercise leg or right leg.

Some new research

Protein associated with immunity and atheroma

New findings indicate that a protein associated with cellular immunity, phospholipase C, is also involved in the migration of macrophages into cholesterol plaques in blood vessel walls. Proper use of this protein could improve the problems created by the occurrence of atheroma.

The olive oil

Given the importance of the news I quote as it comes.

The virgin olive oil reduces the risk of circulatory problems in extremities

Posted in Information and Scientific News (SINC) http://www.agenciasinc.es/

Researchers at the University of Navarra published today in JAMA assay diet beneficial against atherosclerosis, a condition that causes hardening of the arteries. The diet included a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil.

Spanish scientists led by Miguel Ruiz-Canela and Miguel A. Martínez-González, professors at the University of Navarra, have conducted the first clinical trial showing how a dietary intervention can reduce the risk of peripheral arterial disease, a condition in which the arteries the legs are blocked.

The findings, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), show that nutrition education intervention with Mediterranean diet and abundant supply of extra virgin olive oil (free) obtained a relative risk reduction of 66% symptomatic peripheral atherosclerotic disease.

The trial, which is part of the Mediterranean Diet Prevention trial (Predimed) was held for more than four years in 7,447 Spanish men and women of 55-80 years of high risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Participants were randomly assigned to three different diets: 2,539 participants followed a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil extra virgin; 2,444 and trained to follow a diet low in fat and 2,452 participants with education Mediterranean diet but with nuts instead of olive oil.

The Mediterranean diet with extra virgin olive oil reduces the risk of atherosclerosis in the legs and arms.

Furthermore, in this third case the authors also showed a significant risk reduction of 50% compared to the control group.

The dietary intervention included quarterly personal interviews with dieticians and also quarterly group sessions. The program no reduction in energy intake and physical activity promotion was not included.

According to Martínez-González, "the big risk reduction observed for peripheral artery disease is the greatest protective effect found in our assay and provides strong support for the overall beneficial effect of Mediterranean diets against atherosclerosis."

Peripheral arterial disease, also known as peripheral vascular disease, occurs when there is a narrowing or blockage in the arteries of upper or lower limb. It usually occurs in the arteries of the legs (limb ischemia). Its most common symptom is intermittent claudication manifested by pain when walking and dims when stopping.

It can cause complications such as ulcers or wounds that do not heal, foot infections or even gangrene. In severe and advanced cases, amputation may be necessary. The cause is atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs. The presence of PAD is often a sign that atherosclerosis may also be present in the coronary or cerebral arteries.

More than 5% of the population over age 50 have this. Smokers, diabetics and those with high blood pressure or cholesterol are more prone to allergies.

The importance of tomatoes in the diet

A plant that was not included as important to reduce the risk of arterial occlusion is the tomato, or, more precisely, its fruit.

It has been shown that certain deficiencies in ripe tomato substances interfere with lipid oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) in the formation of cholesterol in the body and show an interesting anti-inflammatory activity.

All this contributes to a significant reduction in the formation of atheromatous plaques and thus the occurrence of arterial obstruction.

In conclusion, include this fruit or its derivatives (juice, pulp, pulp, etc.) in the diet appears very desirable, especially in those with a tendency to form atheroma.

Something unexpected

I have lived with a plant and its fruit throughout my life. At the place where I grew up, with sandy soils and then by habit, and in Montevideo, to incorporate into the diet every summer. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus).

But until now I didn't know that it has a very important property, at least to me, the ability to reduce atheromatous lesions of arteries, so far at least in animals (mice). Next summer (months ahead) count me as one of the animals.

Added to this is the ability to reduce blood cholesterol levels and fat mass of the treated animals. Also had already been shown that extracts can control high blood pressure.

Dato and for athletes, extracts of watermelon can reduce muscle inflammation due to intense exercise.

A whole range of properties so rich, so refreshing and so showy plant. If only problem, the weight to move her home.

Mulberry and atherosclerosis

A recent publication realizes the encouraging results achieved in rabbits with an extract of leaves of mulberry (Morus alba), both in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, as in the reduction of existing atheroma in vascular walls.

There are still checks in humans, but given the similarity in tissues and multiple previous experiences, we should be optimistic.

For now, I'm ptogramando testing, without wanting to be a researcher, but I've been taking advantage of atheroma in my arteries.