Preksha Dhyana Human Body Part 2

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 60

arteriosclerosis. Later on, fatty deposits calcify and reduce the elasticity of the blood-vessel promoting hypertension. The roughened surfaces of the plaque may rupture and disintegrate fragile platelets and initiate the clotting mechanisms. Normally the blood flows rapidly enough to disperse the clotting factors, but atherosclerosis can slow down circulation sufficiently to permit clot-formation to begin. Three causes have been identified for the plaque-formation-(i) fatty diet, (ii) high sugar intake and (iii) hypertension.
Arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" is commonly considered a disease of old age, but it may begin in childhood and show no symptoms for many decades. The earlier condition of soft fatty deposits is referred to as atherosclerosis as mentioned above. When the deposits clacify and harden, they reduce the elasticity of the arteries. Besides the blood clot which may be formed, the lipid core of the plaques themselves may also break away and be carried through the blood stream as an embolus.
Hypertension
A resting systolic blood-pressure above 140 mm of mercury is classified as hypertension (high blood-pressure). Some of the cases are found to be the result of specific disease or disorders, such as arteriosclerosis, kidney-disease etc. But in vast majority of cases, no definite cause can be discovered. When the blood-pressure is high, the heart must work harder to pump blood and eventually it enlarges; and if it cannot meet the demands placed on it, it may fail. Hypertension also sets up a vicious cycle involving the kidneys. When the blood-supply to the kidneys is reduced due to narrowing of the arterioles, the kidneys react by secreting their hormone renin which raises the blood-pressure still further and compounds the problem. A weak spot in the artery-walls anywhere in body may cause it to balloon out or even rupture.
Probably tens of thousands of lives can be saved each year if every one had his or her blood-pressure checked regularly. About one sixth of the population has high B.P., but many are completely unaware of this condition. They stand a
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