Combatting Arterial Calcification and Supporting Heart Artery Health
- Heart to Soul Cardiac Wellness
- 40 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Arterial calcification is a serious condition that affects the heart's arteries, leading to reduced blood flow and increased risk of heart disease. This buildup of calcium deposits in the arterial walls can stiffen the arteries, making it harder for the heart to pump blood efficiently. Understanding how to combat this condition is essential for maintaining heart artery health and overall cardiovascular wellness.
Understanding Heart Artery Health and Its Importance
Maintaining healthy arteries is crucial for ensuring that oxygen-rich blood reaches all parts of the body. The arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body, and any blockage or hardening can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks or strokes.
Healthy arteries are flexible and smooth, allowing blood to flow freely. When calcium deposits accumulate, the arteries become rigid and narrow, a condition known as arterial calcification. This reduces blood flow and increases the workload on the heart.
Key factors that influence heart artery health include:
Diet: What you eat directly impacts your arteries.
Exercise: Regular physical activity helps keep arteries flexible.
Smoking: Tobacco use accelerates artery damage.
Cholesterol levels: High VLDL and LDL cholesterol contribute to plaque buildup.
Blood pressure: High blood pressure strains artery walls, making them easily damaged and open to the filling of plaque
By focusing on these factors, you can take proactive steps to protect your arteries and improve your heart health.
Lifestyle Changes to Support Heart Artery Health
Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to combat arterial calcification. Here are some practical steps you can take:
1. Regular Exercise
Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week can improve blood circulation and help maintain artery flexibility. Activities like walking, cycling, and swimming are excellent choices.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking damages the lining of your arteries and accelerates calcification. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease.
3. Manage Stress
Chronic stress can increase blood pressure and harm your arteries. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help manage stress levels. My holistic cardiac wellness program encompasses ways to mitigate stress, because stress not only increases blood pressure, and stress hormones, these hormones impact gut health and the "feel good" hormone production and immunity. Stress is the cause of the heart attack when we back into it!
4. Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider can help you keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check. Holistic lifestyle changes can be enough to get you back on track. Many of my clients have been able to decrease or even eliminate all cardiac medications just by implementing new habits each week, habit stacking them up into a new way of being, the new lifestyle.
5. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight puts additional strain on your heart and arteries. We use tactical strategies for nutrition so you learn how to nourish your body instead of following a punitive diet regimen. Moving your body can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
What Foods Should You Avoid When You Have Calcified Arteries?
Nutrition plays a critical role in managing arterial health. Certain foods can worsen arterial calcification and should be limited or avoided:
Processed Foods: High in unhealthy fats and sodium, processed foods contribute to plaque buildup.
Sugary Beverages and sugary desserts, including breads and crackers and chips, which turn into sugar in the body: Excess sugar increases inflammation and can lead to higher cholesterol levels.
Trans Fats: Found in many fried and baked goods, trans fats raise bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower good cholesterol (HDL).
Processed Meats: These can increase cholesterol and promote inflammation.
Instead, focus on lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats like those found in nuts, seeds, and fish.
Sample Foods to Avoid:
| Food Type | Reason to Avoid |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Fast food | High in trans fats and sodium |
| Soda and sweetened drinks | High sugar content increases inflammation |
| Packaged snacks | Often contain trans fats and preservatives |
| Fatty cuts of deli meat | High in saturated fats and cholesterol |
By avoiding these foods, you can reduce the risk of further arterial damage and support your heart artery health. Note the inflammatory cardiac meal below!
Holistic Innovations for Arterial Health
In addition to lifestyle changes, holistic interventions may be very helpful for some individuals to manage arterial calcification effectively.
examples of Common Holistic approaches used in my program include:
Spices to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and thin the blood.
Magnesium helps relax and widen arteries.
Circulation protocol to restore blood flow, combined with
BEMER PEMF circulation therapy: Improves circulation to the microvascular level, allowing the white blood cells to "patrol their beat" like cops, looking for any bad guys! To find out more about BEMER, please go to this link: www.hearttosoulcw.com under the heading BEMER
My credo is: "I pick you up where the medical system dropped you off." Why? Because 15-minute doctor appointments for lifelong prescriptions is not the path to wellness. In our intake consultation, together we review your medical history, your life, stressors, lifestyle, wellness goals and together we create the best treatment plan based on your individual condition and needs. Book your consultation with me at www.speakwithmary.com
Daily Habits to Promote Long-Term Heart Artery Health
Consistency is key when it comes to protecting your arteries. Here are some daily habits that can make a big difference:
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps maintain blood volume and circulation. Ensure you also have good quality sea salt under the tongue first to allow the cells to take in the fluid. Salt is not the bad guy and a good quality sea salt has the bonus of minerals in it that our bodies need.
Eat Mindfully: Choose nutrient-dense foods and avoid overeating.
Get Enough Sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours per night to support overall cardiovascular health.
Limit Alcohol: Excessive drinking can raise blood pressure and damage arteries.
Regular Health Screenings: Early detection of risk factors can prevent complications.
By integrating these habits into your routine, you can support your heart artery health and reduce the risk of complications related to arterial calcification.
Taking control of your heart artery health is a vital step toward a longer, healthier life. By understanding the risks, making informed nutritional choices, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and seeking appropriate holistic help, you can effectively combat arterial calcification and protect your heart and whole body for years to come! Join my clients today: www.hearttosoulcw.com