Discover the TEST that Can Save Your Heart – Are Your Arteries at Risk? Hello! Did you know that men have more heart attacks at age 65 than women at age 72?
And the worst part: most people have no idea how to prevent these heart attacks. Now, stop and think: could it be that your arteries are clogged without you realizing it? Do you have any signs you're ignoring?
Today we're going to talk about how to protect your arteries - what are the best and worst foods for them. Are you getting your diet right? Or could you be making a dangerous mistake?
I will also teach you a simple test that you can do at home - for free to check if your circulation is good! And at the end, I tell you about a RECENT scientific discovery, which could revolutionize the treatment of clogged arteries without surgery! — and it’s not with stents either.
Are you curious? But first: like the video, subscribe to the channel and activate the bell, so you don't miss important content like this. And tell me: Have you or anyone in your family ever had a heart attack or stroke?
Or do you have signs? What part of Brazil or the world are you from? Write below!
Let's go! Have you ever wondered how your body changes over time? Or do you think it is static?
An important thing that happens over the years is that the walls of the arteries become more rigid and thicker, which makes it difficult for your blood to circulate. And also fatty plaques begin to form and accumulate silently. By the time you realize it, it may be too late – a heart attack or stroke that changes your life forever.
The scariest? You don't feel anything at first. Well, atherosclerosis doesn't appear overnight.
It develops little by little. Sometimes from childhood. Many people think this is a problem only for the elderly, but the reality is very different.
A study in the United States showed that 78% of young people under the age of 35 who were victims of fatal traffic accidents already had plaques in their heart arteries. Almost 80%! People in the prime of their health, with clogged arteries.
And the most impressive thing: 20% of them already had more than 50% obstruction. So, first point, atherosclerosis can attack much sooner than you think! And now, pay attention, few people know this!
How do plaques cause heart attacks and strokes? The biggest plaques are not always the most dangerous. Smaller plaques can also be fatal.
Because these small plates can rupture… I'll explain. When a plate forms, it is covered by a wall. Think of it like plastic wrap wrapped around food.
The problem is that with inflammation, stress, poor sleep, this wall can break. It's like the plastic is tearing. At that moment, everything that was trapped inside it — fat, calcium and other inflammatory substances — falls into the blood.
And platelets, which normally stop bleeding, rush to the scene to help. What's the problem? The artery is like a pipe.
The platelets form a clot, which was supposed to help, but can completely clog the vessel. The blood inside the artery has nowhere to go. The flow stops.
And the result can be a heart attack — if this thrombosis is in the coronary arteries, or a stroke — if it is in the cerebral vessels. That's why. .
. you yourself must know someone who was super healthy and who died of a massive heart attack. .
. When you heard the news you may have asked yourself: was he really not feeling anything? Sometimes not!
Because small plaques often cause no symptoms before they rupture. In fact, most heart attacks are due to plaques smaller than 50%…. Did you know that?
And that's why taking care of your arteries from an early age is essential. How do you take care of your arteries? One of the fundamental things is food.
Avoiding things that are bad for you and consuming foods that are good for you. . .
but don't worry, I'll talk about that in a moment. But now you must be thinking: how do I find out that I already have fat in my arteries? There are several ways to detect problems in your arteries - Your doctor may order a carotid Doppler - to see if you have blockages in the arteries that go to the head — and this is one of the easiest ways — or an abdominal aorta doppler, to see if there are plaques or aneurysms here in the aorta.
A calcium score, which is a tomography, without contrast, that quantifies the calcium in the coronary arteries. . .
It can range from zero to over a thousand, two thousand, I think the maximum I saw was 5,000. Now, pay attention! A score of zero does not mean you have no plaques.
Precisely because there are new, soft plaques, which, as I said, are dangerous because they can break. To get a clear look at the heart arteries, your doctor may order a coronary tomography angiography or catheterization. So, yes, you can see whether you have signs or not and what percentage of obstructions there are.
And the doctor may also order an arterial doppler to see if the blood is flowing well in your legs. . .
Of course, these are all expensive and relatively recent tests. How did doctors, back in the 50s, know that you had an obstruction? The electro can show.
But they also did a simple test, with a blood pressure device, which you can do even at home, to see if you have peripheral arterial disease. . .
which can also predict your cardiovascular risk. . .
Of course, it's not guaranteed like a CT angiography. , or catheterization, but it helps! This test is the ankle brachial index—it is a quick test that measures blood flow to check for the presence of plaque or hardening in the arteries, the main indicators of peripheral arterial disease.
This exam, in addition to being simple, can be done in offices — many doctors still do it today, guided by a Doppler, which is much more reliable — or, for a preliminary assessment, even at home with the help of a blood pressure device. I emphasize that at home, it only serves as an initial check. Now, a quick note: If you've ever had deep vein thrombosis, it's best to skip this test.
But, if that's not your case, prepare your blood pressure device and paper and pen to take notes. Basically, this test compares the pressure in the ankle with that in the arm. And you have to do it on both sides of the body.
Let's go step by step: 1. First choose a side and measure your arm pressure - for example, right arm. .
. Of course, you have to measure the pressure the right way. .
. I already made a video about this, I'll leave it in the cards finals. If you haven't watched it, watch it.
It's worth it. . .
Measure your right arm, write down the systolic pressure, the maximum, the first that appeared on your monitor. Mine here 115 - Then lie down in a comfortable place for a few minutes. Let your body relax a little.
And measure the pressure in the ankle. Where are the two ankle arteries, where you can place the cuff - here. (You can palpate the artery before.
. . or here.
You can measure it in both too. Write down the maximums again. And then, check the pressure in your other ankle and also note it down (left ankle).
And now check your pressure in the arm that you didn't measure. Is there a difference in pressure between the two sides? Normally there is.
If you measured more than once in each limb (which would be recommended) choose the highest value between the systolic pressures of the arteries. greater of the systolic pressures of both arms. The result is the ABI for each leg.
Example of the formula: Right ABI = Highest Pressure in the Right Ankle / Highest Systolic Pressure between the Arms 6. Interpretation of the results: • The normal ABI varies between 1. .
0 and 1. 4 . • Values below 0.
9 indicate peripheral arterial disease (PAD). • Values above 1. 4 may indicate hardened vessels due to calcification.
4 may be indicative of advanced atherosclerosis or arterial stiffness, which affects both the heart and brain. You can take the test. I hope… It is so reliable that it has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100% in detecting serious arterial problems in the limbs.
Write down below what your result was! If the results are not within normal limits, it is time to see a doctor for more complete examinations. And the interesting thing is that, after some time, you can monitor whether your arteries are improving.
Put example- you started walking, stopped smoking. The results may be different! So start monitoring your arteries now!
And teach it to others. And if you haven't shared the video yet, share it now! I doubt your friends won't take the test today!
What if you took the test and the result was too high or too low? Don't worry, this doesn't mean everything is lost. Now, let me tell you a story that will inspire you.
I had a patient who believed he was in good health. He was active, ran marathons, followed a balanced diet… He had an exercise test every year… Always normal. He thought everything was fine.
But when we did a little more in-depth testing, I discovered something worrying: he had a lot of plaque in his arteries. His arteries were like those of a 73 year old man, even though he was only 57! At first he was shocked.
Wow, he was taking care of himself. He felt like all the years of effort had been in vain. .
. but that was the turning point . After this discovery, he made a radical change.
He started taking medication, further adjusted his diet and lifestyle, and even changed his training. And guess what? In just one year, he managed to reverse 20 years of plaque in his arteries!
You may be asking yourself: But wait, didn't I say he already did everything right? What was wrong then? Well, the risk factors for atherosclerotic disease don't just depend on exercise and diet.
They include: • High blood pressure: Even active people can have hypertension, putting a strain on the arteries over time. • High cholesterol: just because you're an athlete doesn't mean your cholesterol is perfect. • Diabetes: can affect even those who have a balanced diet.
• Smoking: Even those who have stopped smoking for some time can have damage to their arteries. • Stress: which ages the arteries. • Family history: Even with a healthy lifestyle, genetics can significantly increase your risk.
In his case, he had all the factors except diabetes. He had stopped smoking 15 years ago… he had a brother, also an athlete, who died at just 50 years old due to a heart attack. That's what made me look beyond the basics, so I didn't just focus on the exercise test.
I ordered a coronary tomography angiography, which revealed the true condition of his arteries. As I said, the arteries were 73 years old and had several plaques approaching 60%. But he was lucky.
Because we discovered it in time. The exam saved his life. And with intensive treatment, a year later he had no plaque greater than 40%.
A victory! Does food count? Of course!
What Are the Worst Foods for Your Arteries? Some foods work like real pumps for your arteries, accelerating the accumulation of plaque and increasing inflammation. Here are the 6 biggest villains you should avoid!
1. Ultra-processed foods These are the champions in sabotaging your arteries. You know those stuffed cookies, snacks, soft drinks and good old ramen noodles?
Yes, they are all full of preservatives, fats and salt. Basically, everything your health doesn't need. And worse, they replace homemade meals and natural foods and increase inflammation and cholesterol.
Think twice before grabbing that microwave lasagna at the supermarket! 2. Sugar and Corn Syrup You know that boxed juice, industrialized sauces and even “fit” bars that seem harmless?
They are loaded with sugar and corn syrup! These ingredients inflame your body, increase abdominal fat and are real disasters for your arteries. I've already made a video about the risks of this type of fructose.
. . I'll leave the link at the end.
3. Trans Fats Margarines, ice creams, Big Macs, French fries and those tempting industrialized desserts are full of trans fats. They are a triple nightmare: they raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol (HDL) and also cause inflammation in the arteries.
Run away from them! 4. Saturated Fats These fats increase bad cholesterol and accelerate the formation of plaques.
Of course, you don't have to become an enemy of barbecue, but moderation is key. Worse are processed meats such as sausages, sausages, ham and bacon, which are rich in preservatives and sodium that contribute to the hardening of arteries and the formation of fatty plaques. 5.
Refined Carbohydrates White bread, white rice and that basic pasta. . .
of course, you don't need to cut everything out, but it's better to reduce it because excess causes insulin spikes, obesity and inflammation. You can eat, but not as often. 6.
Fried foods You already knew this, so I don't even need to beat it anymore. Of course, you don't need to live in a military regime of restrictions, but you can start little by little by switching to foods that are good for you! What should you put more on your plate?
1. Legumes - Such as beans, lentils and chickpeas - are rich in fiber and help keep cholesterol and glucose levels under control. And, to top it off, they provide vegetable proteins for your muscles.
2. Oats One of my favorites for breakfast! It has soluble fibers, such as beta-glucan, which naturally lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces belly fat.
3. Beetroot I already made a recent video. Beetroot is powerful, full of nitrates that contribute to circulation and help dilate blood vessels.
4. Greens like arugula and spinach Like beets, they increase nitric oxide levels in the body, improving blood flow and helping to keep arteries unclogged. 5.
Seeds such as chia and flaxseed Rich in fiber that helps with cholesterol and blood sugar, antioxidants and omega 3 that reduce vessel inflammation. 6. Fruits The two main types are avocado, which is rich in monounsaturated fats that increase HDL and reduce LDL, and red fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, which are rich in anthocyanins, which help with circulation.
7. Chestnuts Nuts, such as almonds and walnuts. I know they are not cheap, but a small amount already brings incredible benefits to the heart.
8. Fish Rich in Omega-3 (Salmon, Sardines) That help reduce triglycerides and increase good cholesterol. 9.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil It's also expensive, but it's cheaper than many medicines 10. Dark Chocolate (over 70%) Flavonoids help relax arteries and improve blood flow, reducing blood pressure. I know what you're thinking.
It's not easy to change your diet. Yes, the journey requires effort. But with the right changes, you can take better care of your heart, reducing risks and living a healthier, fuller life.
That's what this channel is for. I'm here to help you, to show you and sometimes to remind you. So, here we go: take care of your arteries, adjust your diet, move more and, if necessary, seek appropriate medical treatment.
You can do it! And now as the final bonus, I'm going to tell you about a great discovery that could literally revolutionize medicine. Imagine removing fatty plaques from your arteries without surgery, without stents and without medication for the rest of your life.
It sounds like science fiction, but new research is making this possible, and it has already been successfully tested on animals with atherosclerosis! I'll explain to you. Using nanoparticles smaller than a strand of hair, scientists were able to reactivate a natural process in the body called efferocytosis.
This process helps clear cells that build up in arteries and form plaque. In other words, these particles can clean the arteries from the inside! Normally, the body tries to do this on its own, when we do the right things for a long time, giving the arteries space to regenerate.
But, when the plaques grow too much, the copro can't handle it. With nanoparticles, this process returns with full force, removing even the most dangerous plaques. Incredible, right?
This therapy has already been tested on animals and the results are promising. Now, researchers are preparing to test it on humans. Just imagine: if you have plaque you could benefit from a future where cleaning your arteries would be quick and effective!
Many people dream of using a detergent that cleans the arteries—that's how it is. In fact, better! In testing so far, no serious side effects have been detected!
This means the nanoparticles are extremely precise and safe, focusing only on what needs to be removed — without causing harm to healthy cells. This image on the side is of a real artery from a pig. Have you ever thought about the impact this could have on the lives of millions of people?
Of course, this research is still in its early stages. But does it give you a glimmer of hope? It just remains to be seen if the industry will let this happen… What do you think?
I hope you liked the video. Like, share! Also watch my video about the dangers of fructose.
You will be surprised. And the risks of cholesterol medications My name is André Wambier, cardiologist, and this is CardioDF. com.
br Thank you very much!
