Arteriosclerosis

Abstract

The possible factors involved in the causation of arteriosclerosis (AS) are, bad family history of AS diseases; obesity and lack of exercise; stress; cigarette smoking and inhalation of atmospheric carbon monoxide; above average consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), refined sugar and flour, and vitamin D; drinking and cooking with 'soft' water; high blood pressure; raised blood levels of cholesterol, uric acid, and certain triglycerides and lipids; diabetes mellitus, gout and hypothyroidism; increased blood coagulability; advancing age; and being a man rather than a woman. Most of these are thought to be dangerous in themselves, but they might merely be markers of risk, or overlap with each other without summating. The higher mortality of men compared with women is probably partly due to more men smoking more cigarettes, although female hormones almost certainly are protective against AS, at least when they are present in natural amounts, in normally menstruating women.