Cholesterol Drugs for Arteries Plaque
QUESTION: Do cholesterol drugs get rid of plaque already built up in arteries?
ANSWER: Hi there,
It is very important for you to understand that the cholesterol lowering drugs are not removing the atherosclerotic plaque from the arteries.
They generally have two main effects
1 - making the plaque stable and
2 - reducing the cholesterol concentration in your organism.
It is normal for you to wonder what the cholesterol lowering pills are doing when they are not removing the plaque from your arteries.
Keep in mind that the problem is not the existence of such plaque.
The first real problem is the growth of certain atherosclerotic plaque, because when the plaque is growing it can stop the blood flow, which is something we don’t want.
Generally, these drugs stop the growth of the atherosclerotic plaque by keeping the cholesterol concentration within the reference values.
In this way, there is no excessive amount of cholesterol, which can accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel and to enlarge the size of the plaque.
In this way, this part of the atherosclerotic plaque stops the blood flow in a particular area, which is very dangerous problem.
Hope it helped!
Dr.Alba
Potassium Iodide for Atherosclerosis Reversal?
by Joy
QUESTIONHow far one can use potassium iodide for reversal of atherosclerosis?
If yes, how to use it, what foods are rich in iodide or potassium iodide?
What are other benefits of iodide for cardiovascular diseases?
Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Joy,
So far, human or experimental studies on animals have postulated the interaction between iodine deficiency and high cholesterol levels, that is a contributing factor for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
Thus, high levels of total cholesterol, LDL and HDL have been noticed in people with iodine deficiency. Once the deficiency was treated, remarkable changes in the lipid profile were also noted.
As you may probably see, iodine interferes in the oxidation phase of atherosclerosis due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-microbial activities. At this phase, there are present many lipid elements and other from oxidative stress.
Potassium iodide is the supplemental form or iodide, which is given to saturate the thyroid before the radioactive iodide (131-I) is applied for therapeutic or diagnostic purpose.
1. If you are at risk for developing iodide deficiencies, you can take the iodide supplement, most of which contain potassium.
However, you need to talk to your doctor for the right dosage and for how long you should take it according to your body needs.
Do not exceed 1100 mcg per day as it worsen your situation and have side effects. The optimal amount of iodine that a man body needs is 150 mcg, and a female needs aroud 120 mcg per day; while children 70 to 150 mcg and infants 50 to 60 mcg).
2. There are some foods that are rich in iodine, where iodized salt is the most commonly used.
Attention: Always keep your iodized salt in a tight-lid container as iodide is evaporative and, at the end, you will have only salt and not iodine.
You may find iodine as iodide in foods, such as fish or vegetables that grow in soils enriched with iodine.
Dr.Alba
