An expert has issued a warning that a certain symptom experienced during exercise could be indicative of a serious health concern. This particular sign could suggest the presence of clogged arteries, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
In a recent piece for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Professor Martin Bennett shed light on the connection between arterial health and heart function. Prof Bennett, who is a BHF professor of cardiovascular sciences at the University of Cambridge, explained: "Your arteries are a key part of your heart and circulatory system.
"They transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to various organs and tissues throughout the body. However, if the arterial walls become damaged due to factors such as high blood pressure, this can trigger inflammation (your body's response to injury) and lead to the accumulation of fatty material.
"Your body attempts to resolve the inflammation, forming a fibrous seal over the fatty deposit. Over time, this evolves into a hardened plaque (also known as atheroma), which narrows your artery.
"This process, referred to as atherosclerosis, progressively continues as more fatty material accumulates. This can provoke further inflammation, resulting in a larger plaque and an even narrower artery."
The danger of narrowed arteries lies in their potential to become blocked, inhibiting the circulation of blood throughout the body and potentially leading to heart attacks and strokes. What makes this condition particularly insidious is that individuals may remain unaware of their clogged arteries for an extended period.
Prof Bennett continued: "Plaques take a long time to build up, so people with clogged arteries may not have any symptoms for many years." Despite this gradual development, certain signs might suggest you are affected.
You may notice "pain" or "discomfort" while engaging in physical activities, a consequence of arterial blockage. "But once the plaque gets big enough, the artery can become so narrow that not enough oxygen-rich blood can get through," Prof Bennett elaborated.
"This can cause pain or discomfort, especially during exercise." Additionally, the NHS mentions that individuals with clogged arteries might experience leg pain that aggravates when walking.
The culprit is often peripheral arterial disease (PAD), with the NHS website stating: "Many people with PAD have no symptoms. However, some develop a painful ache in their legs when they walk, which usually disappears after a few minutes' rest. The medical term for this is 'intermittent claudication'.
"The pain can vary from mild to intense and typically subsides shortly after resting the legs." Prof Bennett has highlighted grave risks associated with unchecked blocked arteries.
He warned: "But the biggest risk is if the plaque ruptures (breaks off) and the blood flowing through the artery forms a blood clot around it, which blocks your artery. If a blood clot forms in the coronary arteries, this will cause a heart attack.
"And if it happens in an artery supplying blood to your brain, such as the carotid arteries in the neck, it will lead to a stroke."
Causes of blocked arteries
Prof Bennett highlighted several factors that can heighten the risk of fatty material accumulating in the arteries:
- High cholesterol – this natural fatty substance is transported in your blood. An excess of the "bad" type of cholesterol can accumulate in damaged sections of the artery walls.
- High blood pressure – if the pressure of your blood flowing through your arteries is too high, they can become rigid or narrow.
- Smoking – the chemicals found in tobacco and cigarettes can cause the artery walls to become sticky.
- Diabetes – this condition can result in an excessive amount of sugar building up in the blood, which can harm the artery walls.
- Living with excess weight or obesity – this can elevate your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Age - As fatty material takes considerable time to build up in the arteries, ageing also increases your risk.
He further noted: "However, blocked arteries can still occur in younger individuals, especially if they have any of the risk factors mentioned above."
If you notice any of the symptoms discussed above, it's advised to consult your doctor.
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