Atherosclerosis.is it revresible or not?

Atheroslerosis is not reversable. The process of atherosclerosis is similar to that of a wound healing (which in fact it is). Immagine a cut creating a scab and eventually becoming a scar.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/...
So if your body has the approriate nourishment the natural progression will slightly reduce the plaque size A number of studies have compared atherosclerosis of different age groups (as above) and from different cultures, and none ever showed atherosclerosis to reduce. The process starts early in life and continues throughout.. If you look at the above study you will notice that fats and cholesterol are amongst the last things to appear in these growths.

One study compared the amount of atherosclerosis between african cattle herders, who did not suffer CHD, compared to american men, who were starting to suffer increasingly from CHD at the time. The authers were supprised to find that there was no difference between the two groups. What they did find was that the africans' arteries had widened to compensate for these plaque buildups.

Recent research has shown that vitamin K determins where calcium is deposited in the body. A lack of K tends to see calcium end up in these plaque growth thus hardening the arteries, wheras adequate Vit K ensures calcium ends up in the bones, leaving pliable arterial walls.
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.or...
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/ar...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...
http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/...

The recent ENHANCE trial showed that even statins, which slightly reduce death from coronary events ( but cause exrta deaths from other causes) does not reverse or even stop atherosclerosis from developing

I challenge any one to provide proof that.
Atherosclerosis can be reversed
Fat of any type, but in particular saturated, actualy causes atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol causes atherosclerosis.

Show the evidence. Where is it?

For more info on cholesterol
http://cholesterolwise.bravehost.com/

Yea with surgery.

Atherosclerosis (AS) can not only be prevented, but is also reversible if certain measures are taken into consideration and acted upon:

A high-fat diet is the main risk factor. Diets high in fat increase circulating cholesterol and triglycerides, which cause the formation of atherosclerotic plaque inside the arteries.

Uncontrolled hypertension is well-known to increase cardio-circulatory damage. Blood pressure levels higher than 140/90 contribute to AS. Currently these levels are considered borderline at best, and efforts should be made to attain lower levels.

Smoking: in the United States, cigarette smoke causes 180,000 deaths a year due to vascular conditions. Statistically a smoker lives seven years less than a non-smoker.

Diabetes control: this disease causes circulatory problems, increasing the risk of AS.

Weight control: being overweight places an excessive burden on the heart and limits exercise activity

Practicing regular physical exercise: exercise reduces cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keeps the cardio-circulatory system in good condition

Reducing stress and depression: these mental states often lead to higher blood pressure levels which tend to become chronic, and indirectly, to increased appetite, hypertension and lack of exercise.

Genetic history: learning whether your family has a history of circulatory diseases may help prevent the onset of AS.


How Can I Prevent or Reverse Atherosclerosis?
As stated in the beginning, the good news is that atherosclerosis is reversible and can be prevented. Dr. Ornish found that patients who follow the health habits listed below experienced a reduction in the degree of stenosis of their coronary vessels.
Smoking cessation
Strict vegetarian diet (no meat, eggs, or other animal foods except for non-fat milk)
Regula physical activity
Adequate stress management

It is treatable with the stain drugs and a bay aspirin daily. A change in the diet to a low fat diet is recommended as well as daily exercise and maintaining a normal weight.
If there is too much plaque a procedure called angioplasty is usually recommended to prevent heart attacks, strokes, etc.

I don't think so. It's manageable, not curable. You can delay its worsening. I know they perform angioplasty to open severely clogged arteries, but that doesn't really remove the clog, it just compacts it against the artery wall and makes more room for blood to flow.

Although I have heard of people have of people having actual surgery to scrape fat deposits from arteries, I think that is more of a last ditch effort in people who are severely ill and in the final stages of the disease. The one person I heard of who had this type of surgery arteries begin to split during the procedure so they had to stop.

Arteriosclerosis is a nasty disease.

UPDATE:
Glad to know I'm wrong about it not being reversable. :-)

30% to 50% of patients who do everything right as advocated by Dr. Ornish see a slow reversal of blockages of atherosclerosis. Its only about a 3-5% improvement every year, but that beats having it get worse.

Its a huge diet change, and the regular exercise is tough to maintain, but it works for me. Even one small fatty snack will still give me serious angina: 1 grilled burger no mayo, a dozen fries, 1/6 of an avocado.

I'm not sure. You might want to check this out. Dr. Linus Pauling says heart disease is reversible with high doses of Vitamin C, lysine and proline.

http://www.thecureforheartdisease.com/pr...

http://www.internetwks.com/pauling/