How does inflammation damage your arteries?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:When we think of our arteries and what can damage them, we tend to think of that clog: the hunk of junk that stops the flow of blood, like a lemon seed in a straw. If there's a roadblock in the way, then there's no way for traffic to move through. But that's only one mechanism for closing off blood flow. The other occurs through the process of inflammation.
Typically, inflammation in our bodies makes us think of things that swell out—like a sprained ankle, or swollen gums, or the shiner from the 2 a.m. bar brawl. But when it comes to arterial inflammation, you have to think about swelling in.
Inflammation occurs in the middle layer of your arteries. As the middle layer swells from too much LDL "bad" cholesterol, it pushes into the inner layer because the outer sausage layer doesn't give. That pushing into the inner layer reduces the size of the hole that blood can travel through (like drinking with a thinner straw).
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When we think of our arteries and what can damage them, we tend to think of that clog: the hunk of junk that stops the flow of blood, like a lemon seed in a straw. If there's a roadblock in the way, then there's no way for traffic to move through.... More -
Dr. Louis Battey of Piedmont Heart Institute answered:The inner wall of arteries consists of a single layer of cells called the endothelium. This separates blood within the artery from the inner layer of the artery wall. The endothelium produces a variety of substances, most notably nitric oxide, that promote normal function of the arteries. Inflammation damages the endothelium and allows the movement of many potentially damaging substances such as white blood cells and cholesterol into the inner layer of the artery wall. This results in the formation of atherosclerosis, which can narrow the artery and result in the formation of a blood clot within the artery.Helpful? 2 people found this helpfulThe inner wall of arteries consists of a single layer of cells called the endothelium. This separates blood within the artery from the inner layer of the artery wall. The endothelium produces a variety of substances, most notably nitric oxide, that... More
