Here’s good news for the estimated 40 percent of middle-aged Americans who suffer from atherosclerosis (also known as hardening of the arteries) and those who love them. In fact, let’s broaden that good news to include women at low to intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease since atherosclerosis is a risk factor for this disease.
Results of two recent studies found that aged garlic extract (AGE) can be helpful in improving wound healing in individuals with atherosclerosis and in reducing levels of two important inflammatory factors involved in the development of atherosclerosis.
Profile of Atherosclerosis
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and cardiovascular disease (which includes heart disease and stroke) is the number one cause of death globally. Atherosclerosis is a serious cardiovascular condition in which the walls of the arteries narrow and become stiff because of plaque accumulation.
Plaque is composed of cholesterol, calcium, cell waste, and fibrin, a blood-clotting material that interferes with the function of the lining of arteries. It typically takes years for plaque to build up in the arteries and over time the amount of blood that can flow through these blood vessels declines. While mild to moderate atherosclerosis doesn’t cause symptoms, the situation can escalate to a point in which the affected arteries are severely blocked.
If a plaque bursts, a blood clot may form and either block the artery or travel to other areas of the body. Complications from a blood clot can include heart attack, stroke, erectile dysfunction, loss of limbs due to poor wound healing, vascular dementia, disability, or death.
