Heart disease and stroke are the number one and three killers of Americans and both conditions are predominantly the result of poor arterial health. More specifically as arteries become blocked the chances of having heart attacks and strokes goes up significantly. This is why it is very important to recognize the common signs of clogged arteries so that you know if you are at risk or not. It is then equally important to prevent arterial plaque buildup so that you can start to repair the damage already inflicted.
The most common signs of arterial blockage are well known. They include difficulty breathing, tingling in the arms or extremities, sweaty or clammy skin, and chest pain. These types of indicators usually mean that your arteries have become completely blocked and you may be having a heart attack. If the blockage is occurring in the brain then you may also experience slurred speech, loss of function on one side of the face or body, and difficulty with cognition or understanding.
Ideally however you not ever have to experience these symptoms as they imply that the arterial blockages have gotten severe enough o threaten your life. Ideally you want to recognize the early signs of arterial blockages so that you can take steps to correct the problem for catastrophic complications occur.
You should have your blood tested annually to monitor changes in blood composition. Keep an eye out for cholesterol levels which are too high or consistently increasing. Monitor your blood pressure levels as high blood pressure levels can cause or be partially a result of artery blockages. Most obviously, watch your weight and keep it under control. If you notice your body weight creeping up due to increasing levels of body fat rather than muscle gain then you likely need to take some action as your arteries may be in danger of clogging.
If you or your doctor pick up on the early signs of arterial blockage then you will have to take significant steps to change the patterns in your lifestyle which have caused the blockages in the first place. Mostly this means you have to stop eating foods which are bad for you and contain high levels of fat and cholesterol and you have to start exercising more. The exercise will have a two fold positive affect on your arteries as it will help you lose weight and will also greatly support the reduction in cholesterol which contributes to arterial blockage. Above all however you have to take action sooner rather than later. Make it your goal to avoid becoming just another statistic.