DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE TOPIC. IT IS NOT HEALTH ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY UPON THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE. YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WELL REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT APPROACH. YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR MEDICATIONS, DIET, ACTIVITY, LIFESTYLE, ETC. WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN YOUR AREA.
Blood vessels dilate and constrict in order to regulate blood flow to the tissues of the body. When tissue is working harder, it requires more blood flow. So for example if the heart is beater faster to allow someone to exercise, the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle must dilate.
One important substance that helps blood vessels dilate is called nitric oxide (NO) or endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The inner lining of the blood vessels (the endothelium) makes nitric oxide out of a common amino acid found in the proteins of our diet, L-arginine.
The blood vessels of patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis do not dilate properly when the supplied tissue needs more blood. In fact, the blood vessels may actually constrict! This abnormal behavior of blood vessels can be detected in patients at risk for atherosclerosis even before the atherosclerosis develops. It has been shown that the reason for this is inadequate production of NO by the blood vessels.
Supplemental administration of L-arginine in the diet of patients at risk for atherosclerosis has been shown to increase NO production by the blood vessels and allow them to once again dilate properly. Although some studies have suggested that L-arginine supplementation may actually help relieve the symptoms of angina pectoris, a recent study of L-arginine in heart attack survivors showned no symptomatic improvement and a slight increase in patient deaths with L-arginine supplements. Thus, doctors are not currently recommending treatment with L-arginine.
Other things that restore the normal behavior of blood vessels include exercise, estrogen in post-menopausal women, and cholesterol lowering.
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