Say Yes to NO. What is NO? One tiny molecule produced by the
body may do more than any drug to prevent heart attack and stroke. NO or Nitric
oxide, a gas that occurs naturally in the body, is critical for healthy
circulation. It helps dilate blood pressure, and it may inhibit the
accumulation of arterial plaque.
How it works? Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule primarily
produced by cells in the endothelium (inner lining) of blood vessels. A
signaling molecule fits into docking sites (receptors) on cell walls and
triggers biochemical reactions. Nitric oxide helps prevent heart disease and
stroke by…
- Expanding blood vessels. Nitric oxide protects the blood vessels’ smooth muscle tissue from harmful constriction, and this allows blood to circulate with less force. Some doctors report that elevating nitric oxide in hypertensive patients can lower blood pressure by 10 to 60 points.
- Controlling platelet function. Platelets, cell-like structures in blood that can clump up together, may form blood-blocking clots, the main cause of heart attack and stroke. A vascular network that is enhanced by nitric oxide sheds platelets and inhibits dangerous clots.
- Reducing arterial plaque by 50%. Arterial plaque, which consists of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, is the underlying cause of heart diseases. Nitric oxide is an antioxidant that inhibits the passage of monocytes, a type of immune cell, into the artery wall. This in turn reduces the underlying inflammation that promotes plaque.
- Lowering total cholesterol by 10% to 20%. That’s a modest decrease – but there’s some evidence that nitric oxide is even more effective when combined with the cholesterol lowering statins. Nitric oxide lowers cholesterol through its antioxidant activity. The preliminary research suggests that stimulating nitric oxide production in people who have elevated cholesterol makes it possible to lower their statin doses by at least 50%.
Let's keep our heart healthy. Ask me how. :)
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