Cardiovascular diseases often begin silent and continues to develop until the matter becomes clear, and the symptoms appear suddenly and brutally affecting all parts of the body causing many complications. So it is very important to take a decision and take the initiative in preventing them by taking all precautions and getting periodically examined to ensure the following:

• Blood triglycerides levels (less than 150 mg / dl).
• Blood cholesterol levels (100-129 mg / dl).
• Blood pressure (120/80 mm Hg).

Regular follow-up, in addition to paying attention to healthy food and sports, prevents Atherosclerosis, one of the most common cardiovascular diseases that may lead to angina if not treated. We will learn together in this article about this disease, its causes and methods of treatment.

In this article, we will mention the following:

• What is Atherosclerosis?
  • Signs and Symptoms.
  • Causes.
  • Complications.
• What is the treatment for Atherosclerosis?
• What is vitamin K2?
• The benefits of vitamin K2.
• Vitamin K2 dietary sources.
• Other vitamins and minerals to strengthen the cardiovascular system.
• Tips for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

• What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis occurs when blood vessels carrying oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body become thick and stiff due to the increase of LDL 'low-density lipoprotein' in the blood (160 mg/dl), thus resulting in its accumulation in the arteries, causing it to narrow gradually and prevent the passage of blood easily, affecting the nutrition of the heart muscle, and may lead to many serious health problems in any of the arteries nourishing the body threatening human life. 

• Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis:

There are no primary symptoms of Atherosclerosis, most of the symptoms appear after the disease has developed significantly, leading to a sudden pain in the affected area.

•Heart:

• Severe chest pain and pressure. 

• Cerebral arteries:

• Sudden numbness.
• Weakness in the arms or legs.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Drooping of the facial muscles.
• Temporary loss of vision in one eye.

• Renal arteries:
  • Hypertension.
  • Kidney failure.

• Peripheral arteries:
  • Pain in the leg when walking.

• Difference in blood pressure measurement between lower leg pressure and forearm pressure.

• Causes of atherosclerosis:

• Hypertension.
• High LDL cholesterol levels.
• High triglycerides levels.
• Increased calcium levels in the blood (Calcification). 
• Insulin resistance and Diabetes.
• Lack of exercise.
• Obesity.
• Smoking.
• Stress and nervousness.
• Directly sleeping after eating (Myocardial strain).
• Genetic factors. 

• Complications of Atherosclerosis:

Complications of Atherosclerosis depend on the location of the arteries where the blockage occurred:

• Heart:
  • Angina (due to the constant lack of adequate blood to the heart, Constant pain is present and felt, but stabbing pain does not suddenly appear affecting the heart attack as in cardiac arrest).
  • Cardiac arrest (caused by a blood flow interruption or limited flow to the heart muscle, as a result of blockage and clotting of the arteries, which causes oxygen to be cut off from the muscle and threatens to stop functioning immediately).

• Brain:
  • Stroke (Occurs when blood flow to a certain part of the brain stops, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and other vital nutritional substances).

• Extremities:
  • Gangrene (as a result of hardening of the arteries of the arms and legs, the limbs become less sensitive to heat and cold and the risk of burns increases, and in some cases poor blood circulation in the extremities causes tissue death).

• Blood vessels:
  • Aneurysm (Weakening of the artery wall that creates a bulge, and is considered a serious complication as it has no symptoms but if it explodes, it leads to life-threatening internal bleeding).

• Kidneys:
  • Chronic kidney disease (Atherosclerosis causes narrowing of the arteries leading to the kidneys, preventing oxygen-saturated blood from reaching it. Over time, this can affect kidney function, preventing waste from coming out of the body).

• What is the treatment for Atherosclerosis?

1. Cholesterol-lowering drugs: to slow down  LDL cholesterol manufacturing process in the body, and reduce the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries, which helps stabilize the lining of heart arteries and prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, in addition to enhancing the process of manufacturing  HDL cholesterol.
2. Anticoagulant drugs: As an example 'Aspirin' to reduce the possibility of platelets clumping in narrowed arteries and forming a blood clot causing blockage.
3. Beta blocker drugs: These medications help reduce heart rate and blood pressure, which reduces stress on the heart and usually relieves symptoms of chest pain.
4. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These medications help slow the progression of atherosclerosis by lowering blood pressure.
5. Calcium channel blockers: These medications reduce blood pressure and are sometimes used to treat angina.
6. Diuretics: Diuretics help by reducing blood pressure.
7. Vitamin K2: In some cases, vitamin K2 is used as one of the means of preventing complications of atherosclerosis by reducing the risk of mineral deposition on the arteries. There is a directly proportional relationship between vitamin K2 deficiency and cardiovascular disease.
    

“Warning: It is not recommended to use vitamin K2 without consulting a doctor to determine whether or not it can be used and the appropriate dose for the condition.”

• What is vitamin K2?

Vitamin K2 is member of a group of fat-soluble vitamins that play an essential role in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and the regulation of calcium levels in the blood. These vitamins are divided into two main types:

• Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone): It is found mainly in plants and plant-based foods.
• Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone): It is found in some animal products and fermented legumes.

When consuming vegetables and green leaves, vitamin K1found there is converted to vitamin K2 by the Probiotics “Beneficial bacteria” in the large intestine to be absorbed in the small intestine and stored in adipose tissue and liver 'in the form of vitamin K2'.

The body needs vitamin K to produce prothrombin, which is a protein and an important factor for blood clotting, and it also needs it for the process of deposition of calcium in the bones and preventing it from depositing on the walls of blood vessels and causing them to narrow, So there is a positively direct relationship between vitamin K and heart health as it helps reduce the possibility of cardiovascular disease and complications.

 That is why In case of vitamin K deficiency, the person faces serious complications, and the deficiency occurs for several reasons, including:

• Abusing of antibiotics without a prescription “Antibiotics destroy the good gut bacteria that convert vitamin K1 to vitamin 2”.
• Poor diet “lacks vitamin k2 dietary sources”.

• The benefits of vitamin K2

Based on many studies conducted on vitamin K2, the following has been proven:

• Cardiovascular health:

1. Vitamin K2 helps keep blood pressure normalized by preventing mineral buildup in the arteries ”mineralization”, giving the heart an opportunity to pump blood freely through the body.

1. People who took adequate and regular doses of vitamin K2 were 52% less likely to develop arterial calcification and 57% less likely to die from heart disease.

1. In a study on 16,057 women, it was noted that participants who took vitamin K2 were less likely to have heart disease - for every 10 micrograms of K2 they consumed daily, their risk of heart disease decreased by 9%.

• Bone health:

1. Vitamin K2 supports the maintenance of bone strength, improves bone density and reduces the risk of fractures.

1. Vitamin K2 activates the calcium-dependent proteins - GLA matrix protein and Osteocalcin, which help build and maintain bone.

1. A 3-year study in 244 postmenopausal women found that women who took vitamin K2 supplements had a significantly slower reduction in age-related bone mineral density.

1. Studies and research found that vitamin K2 reduced vertebral fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 77% and all non-spinal fractures by 81%.

• Dental health:

1. In a study conducted on one of the main proteins that regulate dental health, Osteocalcin - the same protein necessary for bone metabolism and activated by vitamin K2, they found that Osteocalcin activates a mechanism that stimulates the growth of new dentin, which is the calcified tissue underneath tooth enamel.

• Memory improvement:

1. Increased levels of vitamin K in the blood have been associated with improved episodic memory in the elderly.

• Prevention of cancer:

1. Two clinical studies indicated that vitamin K2 reduces the recurrence of liver cancer.

1. A study on 11,000 men found that taking vitamin K2 was associated with a 63% reduced risk of developing advanced prostate cancer.

• Vitamin K dietary sources.

Dietary sources of vitamin K1

Vitamin K1 is found mainly in green leafy vegetables such as:

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• carrots
• Cabbage
   

Dietary sources of vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is found in the following food sources:

• Proteins from animal source.
• Eggs.
• Liver.
• Fatty fish.
• Chicken.
• Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, Japanese natto 'soybeans'.

What are the best supplements that contain vitamin K2?

The best dietary supplement containing vitamin K2 is MENA Q, as it is the number 1 product in Egypt that contains vitamin K2 from the MK-7 series of menaquinone, which improves the health condition of patients with Atherosclerosis, heart problems and diabetics and protects them from complications.

What is the concentration and dose of MENA Q?

Mena Q contains vitamin K2 at a concentration of 45 μg, which is a sufficient dose to improve health and give the person the desired therapeutic effect.

• Dosage: one tablet (to swallow) a day, regularly.
• Age: suitable for ages 10 and above
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: MENA Q is completely safe during pregnancy and lactation, and has no side effects.

What are the indications for MENA Q?

Mena Q can improve general body health and prevent various diseases, and its indications include:

• Prevention of osteoporosis: as it works on the deposition of calcium in the bones and teeth.
• Protection of cardiovascular patients: Vitamin K2 or MENA Q works to prevent calcium deposition on the walls of blood vessels and the heart, which prevents complications of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and strokes.
• Protection from diabetes: as it increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, it reduces the level of sugar in the blood.
• Protecting kidney patients: Protects kidney disease patients from serious complications such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis.

• What is the price of MENA Q?

MENA Q contains 20 small easy-to-swallow tablets at a price of 95 pounds, available in all pharmacies in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

• Other vitamins and minerals to strengthen the cardiovascular system

• Calcium

• Calcium plays important roles in the electrical activity and the heart's pumping function.

• Lycopene
  • Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that keeps arteries elastic and increases blood circulation.
  • It is found in red colored foods such as tomatoes and red peppers.

• Magnesium
  • Magnesium is one of the minerals necessary for heart health, as it helps in the relaxation of the heart muscle and lowers blood pressure levels.

• Probiotics

• They are beneficial bacteria found in the digestive system and help in improving the digestive process, thus reducing the formation of harmful cholesterol “LDL”.

• Vitamin D3

It has numerous benefits, as it is one of the most important vitamins that indirectly strengthen the heart muscle, it:

• Increases calcium absorption, helps in mineralizing bones and strengthening them.
• Prevents calcium from being deposited on the blood vessels leading to the inelasticity of blood vessels and arteries that will increase blood pressure.
• Helps maintain mental health.
• Reduces insulin resistance, and reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
• Helps in the absorption of magnesium in the body, which is an important mineral that its deficiency causes irregular heartbeat.

• Tips for preventing cardiovascular diseases

• Avoid smoking
  • Stop smoking if you are a smoker, and stay away from smokers if you are a non-smoker, as smoking reduces the amount of oxygen inhaled, which causes high blood pressure, and leads to increased heartbeats due to the increased work of the heart to compensate the lack of oxygen in the blood to adequately supply the body, this may eventually lead to fatigue and cardiomyopathy.
• Exercise
  • Fast walking for half an hour a day is one of the best ways to help in losing weight, and weight loss is of great importance in maintaining blood sugar levels and reducing blood cholesterol, and as a result lowering the risk of developing high blood pressure, which is one of the diseases that reduces heart efficiency over time.

• Eat a healthy diet

Among the most important foods that must be eaten:

• Green leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage).
• Avocado.
• Whole grains (corn, wheat, oats).
• Seeds (chia seeds, flax seeds).
• Citrus fruits (lemon, orange, tangerine).
• Pomegranate.
• Fish.
• Legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas).
• Nuts.
• Turmeric.

• Maintain a healthy weight
  • To avoid the accumulation of fat around the abdomen, as the accumulation of fat in this area portends a long-term risk of heart disease.

• Periodic examination
  • The periodic examination contributes to knowing health problems at the beginning and correcting them before it is too late, among the necessary tests to check the health of the heart:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Lipid profile analysis
• Fasting sugar analysis.
• Analysis of salts and minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium).

*This article was written by an integrated medical team affiliated with Devart Lab, the leading company in the field of Nutraceuticals in Egypt and the Middle East (Nutrigenomics and Food Fortification), by providing nutrients that are fortified with minerals and vitamins that the body needs on a daily basis to obtain effective results in the least possible time. By using the latest technological technologies that ensure full absorption without any side effects.