Atherosclerosis In The Extremities: Causes And Treatment Options

As a precaution against atherosclerosis, foods that promote blood circulation can be consumed. Exercise can also be very helpful.

Today’s article is about  arteriosclerosis  in the blood vessels of the legs and feet. This is a very common disease that is also known as arteriosclerosis obliterans .

Colloquially one speaks of hardening or hardening of the arteries, because fat deposits lead to hardening of the blood vessels.

The consequences of this are circulatory disorders, varicose veins, swelling in legs and feet, tingling sensation, night cramps and muscle fatigue.

Can arteriosclerosis be prevented? The answer is of course yes. Arteriosclerosis obliterans can then be prevented with healthy lifestyle habits  . If you already have it, the following tips can also be very helpful.

Atherosclerosis in the legs: what are the symptoms?

Atherosclerosis in the legs is  very common, especially in women, and often in connection with other cardiovascular diseases.

So it is not an isolated problem, but mostly a consequence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity and hereditary predisposition.

The following symptoms can occur: 

• Build-up of fat  on the inner walls of the arteries and hardening. When less blood can flow, the oxygen supply is also reduced. This becomes noticeable through tiredness after walking for a short time and also through cramps and intense burning sensation in the legs.

• Because the muscle tissue does not receive enough oxygen, inflammation and fluid retention can occur. You often notice this because the shoes are squeezing or the feet no longer fit in and the legs have more volume.
• Atherosclerosis in the extremities occurs predominantly between the ages of 50 and 55 years. The legs “burn” in the resting position, especially at night, which leads to sleep problems. It is an annoying pain that reduces the quality of life.
• The symptoms occur particularly in the calves and feet, as well as in the hips and buttocks.
• Atherosclerosis of the legs leads to  varicose veins, phlebitis and also to arthritis.

Preventive treatment

The treatment of arteriosclerosis in the legs consists mainly of changing  lifestyle habits. Your doctor will advise you accordingly. In addition to any medication, however, the following simple recommendations can also be very helpful.

1. Exercise in moderation

Exercise in moderation is very important  to promote blood flow and oxygenation to the tissues. Aerobic exercises that activate the heart are highly recommended. Then you will find various examples:

• Walk for half an hour a day.
• Swim for 20 minutes.
• Cycling for 15 minutes (if you don’t have knee problems or arthritis).

2. Tea with garlic and lemon in the morning

This home remedy helps  to reduce bad cholesterol, relieve inflammation and at the same time it promotes blood circulation.  Here’s how you can make this tea:

ingredients

• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 glass of water (200 ml)
• grated ginger (3 g)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
• 1 tbsp bee honey (25 g)

preparation

Simply cut the clove of garlic and bring the water to a boil. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook for 20 minutes.

Then let it steep for another 10 minutes. Then the tea is sieved and refined with the honey and lemon juice. Drink one cup each for 10 days and then take a 5-day break.

3. The benefits of pomegranate juice

The pomegranate is excellent for arterial health and flexibility. This fruit contains valuable  antioxidants,  fiber, and vitamins that help remove the fatty deposits that are responsible for atherosclerosis.

4. White tea with mint

This tea tastes delicious and improves blood circulation,  reduces muscle soreness and also increased cholesterol levels, which can lead to hardening of the arteries.

It is worth knowing that white tea contains a particularly large number of antioxidants and is therefore very helpful for a wide variety of complaints.

Here’s how you can make this tea:

ingredients

• 20 g white tea
• 20 g peppermint
• 1 tbsp honey (25 g)
• 1 glass of water (200 ml)

preparation

First the water is brought to a boil. Then add the white tea and peppermint. This tea then smells excellent. Just let it steep for 20 minutes and then sweeten with honey. Delicious!

5. Foods that should not be missing from your eating plan

A healthy diet, in which animal fat, refined flour and sweets are largely avoided, is crucial to prevent arteriosclerosis in the legs. In addition, the following foods should not be missing from your diet:

• oats
• green apple
• blue fish
• Fruit with antioxidants (lemon, orange, pineapple, kiwi …)
• avocado
• garlic
• turmeric
• olive oil
• spinach
• tomato