Signs and Symptoms

There are three main types of diseases that fall into the broader category of arteriosclerosis, including: atherosclerosis and Munkberg medical calcific sclerosis.

Atherosclerosis will occur when there is a buildup of cholesterol, fats, and plaque in the artery walls. This is a type of arteriosclerosis that can lead to heart attacks. When atherosclerosis develops, the buildup of plaque will form blood clots that eventually burst. However, not all causes of arteriosclerosis lead to heart attacks, or involve blood clots.

It is easy to brush aside arteriosclerosis symptoms because the disease is gradual and can accompany weight gain.

Atherosclerosis does not produce symptoms until later in the disease when a blockage occurs. At this time, the person may have a mild heart attack that could progress to a stroke, or even heart failure. Arteriosclerosis symptoms may include:

• Chest pain or pressure (angina).
• Shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle weakness or numbness in the legs or arms from lack of circulation.
• Leg pain when walking.
• Drooping muscles in the face.
• Difficulty speaking or slurred speech.
• Erectile dysfunction, pain around the genitals, or difficulties having sex.
• Confusion, which happens if the blockage affects brain circulation.

What Causes Atherosclerosis?

Several studies have linked various environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors with arteriosclerosis. Inflammation is also a major cause of arteriosclerosis, and it is largely triggered by chronic stress, depression, and anxiety. Also, a poor diet that is high in saturated fat and low in fiber and antioxidants, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and inactivity will cause arteriosclerosis.

There are also factors that increase the risk of atherosclerosis, including smoking, drinking alcohol, high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated iron levels in the blood, and an excess of toxic metals and other toxins such as air pollutants.

Diagnosis

Tests include:

• Angiography. This test uses special X-rays to locate and measure blockages. Your healthcare provider will inject a contrast dye into your arteries to help the blockages show up on the X-rays.
• Ankle/brachial index. This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the pressure in your arm to measure blood flow in your arms and legs.
• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray takes pictures inside of your chest.
• CT scan. This scan takes pictures inside of your body and can show any hardening and narrowing of your large arteries.
• Echocardiogram (echo). An echo takes pictures of your heart’s valves and chambers and measures how well your heart is pumping.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG measures your heart’s electrical activity, rate and rhythm.
• Exercise stress test. This test measures your heart function while you’re physically active.
• Carotid ultrasound. This test takes ultrasound pictures of the arteries in your neck (carotid arteries). It can detect hardening or narrowing of these arteries as blood flows to your brain.
• Abdominal ultrasound. This ultrasound takes pictures of your abdominal aorta. It checks for ballooning (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or plaque buildup in your aorta.

Allopathic treatment for atherosclerosis

Allopathic medications can just help prevent atherosclerosis from worsening, there is not any treatment for arteriosclerosis in allopathic medicines.

Medications for atherosclerosis include:

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs for example: PCSK9 inhibitor, Niacin, Ezetimibe, Bempedoic acid and bempedoic acid/ezetimibe, Simvastatin, Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates), atorvastatin; fluvastatin; pravastatin; rosuvastatin; simvastatin, Bile acid sequestrants, fluvastatin, Rosuvastatin, ACL inhibitor, Lomitapide .
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which may lower blood pressure, for example: Benazepril, Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Moexipril, Perindopril, Quinapril.
• Beta-blockers, which “rest” the heart, for example: Atenolol, Bisoprolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol), propranolol, Sotalol.
• Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin.

Aspirin can be particularly effective for patients with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.

If you have no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, only use aspirin as a preventive medication if your risk of bleeding is low and your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is high.

If your patient doesn’t like too much allopathic medicines and do not want to use aspirin for long period, advise hie/her to eat daily ginger and garlic in raw form or make its tea.

Surgery

If symptoms are especially severe or if muscle or skin tissue are endangered, surgery may be necessary.

Possible surgeries for treating atherosclerosis include:

• Bypass surgery, which involves using a vessel from somewhere else in patient’s body or a synthetic tube to divert blood around patient’s blocked or narrowed artery.
• Thrombolytic therapy, which involves dissolving a blood clot by injecting a drug into patient’s affected artery.
• Angioplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention, which involves using a catheter and a balloon to expand patient’s artery, sometimes inserting a stent to keep the artery open.
• Atherectomy, which involves removing plaque from patient’s arteries by using a catheter with a sharp blade at one end.
• Endarterectomy, which involves surgically removing fatty deposits from patient’s artery.

Homeopathic treatment for Atherosclerosis

Unfortunately, when atherosclerosis is left untreated, the condition gets worse, and the arteries will become so constricted that an adequate amount of oxygenated and medicated blood, that’s why the treatment could be little longer for example a month or three!

Homeopathic remedies will help treat the hardening of the arteries. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2005, found that the homeopathic formula called Vesicopner, is an effective alternative for treating atherosclerosis and related diseases.

Note: Vesicopner is Dr. Qaisar Ahmed’s invented Homoeopathic combination. Vesicopner homeopathic medicines can be used for the treatment of atherosclerosis of the coronary and cerebral vessels, some of the ingredients in Vesicopner composition contains Lycopodium (club moss club-shaped), Aurum Iodatum (iodine gold), Barium Carbonicum (carbonate, barium), Allium sativum (garlic seed), taken in equal ratios when breeding C12.

The composition is a homeopathic remedy in the form of both tablets (milk of sugar) and drops. Vesicopner improves sclerotioides vascular wall, stabilizes blood pressure, improves blood circulation in tissues and organs, including the brain vessels, normalizes blood cholesterol. Helps to improve memory, reduce dizziness, noise in the head. Improves mood, reduces depression with fear. The drug can be recommended in any stages of atherosclerosis in the form of single-therapy and in combination therapy in severe damage of the vessels of the heart and brain.

For treatment of arteriosclerosis old theory is that Homoeopathic remedies should be taken in low potencies for long periods of time, but Valiosys starts its action in just 20 minutes and cleans arteries in 30-90 days depends on plaque and blockage.

The following are the most prescribed arteriosclerosis homeopathic remedies:

1. Crataegus Oxy

Crataegus oxy is effective for atherosclerosis symptoms, like shortness of breath, exhaustion, weakness, and angina pectoris. Cardiac dropsy. Fatty degeneration. Aortic disease. Extreme dyspnea on least exertion, without much increase of pulse. Atherosclerosis – pain in region of heart and under left clavicle. Heart muscles seem flabby, worn out. Cough. Heart dilated; first sound weak. Pulse accelerated, irregular, feeble, intermittent. Valvular murmurs, angina pectoris.

Cutaneous chilliness, blueness of fingers and toes; all aggravated by exertion or excitement. Sustains heart in infectious diseases. Crataegus is as effective as ACE inhibitors and diuretics for treating mild cardiac insufficiency.

2. Aurum Iodatum

Chronic pericarditis, valvular diseases, atherosclerosis ozaena, lupus, osteitis, ovarian cysts, myomata uteri, are pathological lesions. Senile paresis, heart inflammation. Atherosclerosis. Cheerful, but also anxious and hurried. Symptoms worsen with warmth and exertion.

3. Aurum Metalicum

Aurum Metalicum is used for atherosclerosis, hypertension, and an enlarged and weakened heart, along with nightly pain attacks behind the breastbone. The person is also depressed and suicidal, and yet fears death. Common emotional feelings include loss, failure, grief, and self-blame.

Sensation as if the heart stopped beating for two or three seconds, immediately followed by a tumultuous rebound, with sinking at the epigastrium. Palpitation. Atherosclerosis. Pulse rapid, feeble, irregular. Hypertrophy.

High Blood Pressure-Valvular lesions of arterio-sclerotic nature.

4. Baryta Muriatica

Irregular and rapid pulse, exhaustion, shortness of breath, dizziness, and mental weakness. The person easily angers, and symptoms worsen while sleeping and during springtime, atherosclerosis and cerebral affections, Hypertension and vascular degeneration, Icy coldness of body, with paralysis. Multiple sclerosis of brain and cord. Voluntary muscular power gone but perfectly sensible.

5. Natrum iodatum

Natrum Iodatum is typically used for chest pain, heart inflammation, and atherosclerosis when there is also shortness of breath, dizziness, chronic bronchitis, chronic hay fever, and rheumatism.

6. Plumbum

Plumbum is useful for Delirium, coma and convulsions, hypertension and atherosclerosis, pressure in the chest produces shooting pains and difficulty breathing, multiple sclerosis, Cardiac weakness, pulse soft and small, dichroite.

Wiry pulse, camp-like constriction of peripheral arteries, trembling, palpitations, abdominal cramps, constipation, paranoia, dementia, and chronic kidney disease.

Symptoms worsen at night and while someone is present.

7. Strontium Carbonicum

Strontium carbonicum is best for atherosclerosis, along with headaches, nausea, weakness, and vertigo. The person will also feel flushed, and their heart feels smothered. Heat improves symptoms, while things worsen from walking, especially at night.

8. Vanadium

Vanadium is used for arteriosclerosis when there is a pressure in the chest, and the heart feels grasped and compressed, as if it is too full of blood. Its action is that of an oxygen carrier and a catalyzer.

Fatty degeneration of the liver, heart, and arteries, arteriosclerosis is often the result from arthritis, diabetes, or tuberculosis, pore (fatty and bakery) diet.

9. Digitalis

Digitalis symptoms are slow pulse but primarily strong, great weakness of the cardiac tissue.

Extra exertion increases its rapidity, but diminishes its force, so that the quick pulse becomes irregular and intermittent (marked symptom). The heart feels as if the blood stood still.

Weakness and numbness of the left arm, and often cyanosis of the body. The patient fears that the heart will stop beating if he should make any motion.

The Digitalis patient has sick feeling at the stomach after eating, disturbed sleep, apprehensiveness, deep sighing, atherosclerosis, slow respiration, dry cough, suffocative spells; in fact, dropsical conditions dependent on heart trouble, swelling of feet and ankles, anasarca, cardiac dropsy associated with slow pulse, urine suppressed or scanty.

The specialty of Digitalis is inflammation of the heart muscle approaching insidiously and in sudden cases of myo-or endocarditis with the symptoms above outlined. The first noticeable benefit is a steadier heart’s action and an increased flow of urine.

10. Cactus grandiflorus

Its well-known characteristic symptom, “Sensation as if the heart were grasped with an iron hand,” which clutches and relaxes alternately, is ever present to the mind.

It should be borne in mind that not all patients express themselves alike. A squeezed sensation may mean the same symptom. It has, however, other symptoms.

Cordites and pericarditis. Rheumatic carditis. Atherosclerosis. It seems to lie midway between Aconite and Digitalis. It controls the inflammatory condition and strengthens the heart’s contractions and does not poison the heart like Digitalis or Strophanthus. 

Great irritation of the cardiac nerve and Cactus may be found to be the remedy for angina pectoris, hypertrophy of the heart especially in young people, intense palpitation and fluttering sensations about the heart.

Difficult breathing, suffocative, fainting, violent palpitation and inability to lie down are symptoms indicating the cardiac asthma or dyspnea.

11. Kalmia latifolia

Kalmia is a remedy for cardiac hypertrophy, especially after rheumatism, and has the symptom so common in heart affections, namely, “numbness of the left arm.” There is with Kalmia much pain and anguish about the heart, some dyspnea, palpitation, and pressure from the epigastrium towards the heart.

The heart is irregular and intermits every third or fourth beat. There are shooting pains through the chest to the scapula. Atherosclerosis. Suppression of rheumatism by external applications.

The pulse of Kalmia is slow, but not as slow as Digitalis.  Their symptomatic value consists in pointing to a class of drugs rather than to an individual drug.

The minutiae of the pains should be studied. Acute pericarditis depending upon rheumatism will call for Kalmia; the sharp pains taking away the breath will call attention to it.

Hering says Kalmia has a most beneficial action in diminishing too rapid pulsation of the heart.

12.Spigelia

Spigelia is the remedy for the painful affections about the heart. It stands at the head of the list for acute cordites and pericarditis.

There are sharp pains shooting from the heart to the back, and radiating from the heart down the arm, over the chest, and down the spine.

There is palpitation worse from any movement of the arm or body, purring sensation felt over the cardiac region when placing the hand thereon. The pulse is intermittent, not synchronous with the heartbeat, and the slightest motion of the arm or hands makes the patient worse. Atherosclerosis.

Heart symptoms accompanying neuralgia call for Spigelia. Irregular and tumultuous action of the heart are well met by Spigelia. At times the heartbeat is even audible.

Rheumatic endocarditis will often find its curative remedy in Spigelia, and it has a most beneficial action in angina pectoris. In cardiac inflammation it comes in after Aconite.

It corresponds well to chronic affections of the heart, particularly valvular disease and hypertrophy.

13. Cimicifuga

This is a homeopathic medicine for heart disease often indicated in heart troubles, especially when they supervene upon chorea or rheumatism of the bellies of the muscles.

The headache confined to the forehead or as if the top of the head would fly off is present and an indicating feature. Atherosclerosis. Pain under the left nipple and down the left arm. The pains are apt to come in shocks. Insomnia is persistent.

14. Aconitum Napellus

Among the homeopathic medicines for heart disease having a marked influence of the heart is Aconite. It has numbness of the left arm, tingling in the fingers, associated with heart disease.

Cardiac congestion, with anxiety, oppression and palpitation, worse when walking; lancinating stitches occur, and also attacks of intense pain, atherosclerosis.

It is the remedy in uncomplicated hypertrophy of the heart. In pericarditis and endocarditis when the inflammation sets in with fever with the intense mental anxiety so characteristic of the drug.

15. Rhus toxicodendron

Rheumatic hypertrophy calls for Rhus. It is a palpitation of the heart from over-exertion, with numbness and lameness of the left arm and shoulder.

Atherosclerosis. Pericarditis or endocarditis from exposure to rain, getting wet, etc. These symptoms are worse on every change of the weather.

Uncomplicated hypertrophy of the heart such as comes in athletes, machinists, etc., calls for Rhus; and among other remedies for this condition may be mentioned Arnica and Bromine.

Pericarditis due to septic condition, and in heart troubles, as in all others, it follows Bryonia well.

16. Bryonia

In affections of heart membranes – Bryonia is one of the most prominent remedies. It corresponds to the first or second stage of pericarditis when of rheumatic organ and especially if pleuritic symptoms be present.

There are intense fever, frontal or occipital headache, and acute stitching pains which are aggravated by movement, and the friction murmur is always present.

It does not usually correspond to pericarditis from Bright’s disease or pyemia. Asclepias tuberosa is similar to Bryonia, but the symptoms are not so acute, the fever is not intense, the pain is pricking and extends to the left shoulder; there is a dry spasmodic cough, and the pain is relieved by bending forward.

A valuable group of symptoms calling for Bryonia is the following: Cramp in region of the heart, aggravated by walking, raising oneself or using the slightest exertion, even raising the arm. Heart beats valiantly and rapidly. Atherosclerosis.

17. Convallaria

It is useful in valvular diseases of the heart with scanty urine, dropsy and great dyspnea. It has so relieved the oedema in a number of cases that the patient could lie down. Dyspnea, palpitation and oedema due to mitral disease have been relieved by it, feeble heart sound, anemic murmurs over the jugular vein, pain in region of heart and an uneasy fluttering; a sensation when exercising as if the heart stopped beating and then started up again, causing a faint, sick feeling, atherosclerosis.

This uneasiness about the heart should suggest its use in the condition known as cigarette or tobacco heart.

18. Lachesis

The snake poisons exercise as a marked effect on the heart and circulation, as well as on the blood itself. Lachesis produces a palpitation of the heart and a constrictive feeling in the cardiac region. Sensation about the heart, waking the patient out of sleep. Patient can’t bear any pressure on the chest. Pulse small and weak. It has more septic elements than the other venoms. Pulse slow, the patient is melancholic, and all the symptoms are worse from stimulants and better walking or riding in the open air. It is a remedy that should not be overlooked.

Hypotension is marked. It has much pain and resembles herein Spigelia, but it comes in later in valvular affections. Lachesis has also the symptom that the heart feels too large for the chest.

Atheromatous conditions of the heart and blood vessels call for Lachesis, especially in old people when symptoms of dropsy are present. Atherosclerosis.

19. Lilium tigrinum

Heart disease, it has a pain in the heart as if grasped in a vise, which awakens the patient suddenly. There is much fluttering about the heart, and faintness. Atherosclerosis.

Sensation as if the heart were grasped and then released. Lilium will be found useful in purely functional affections, independent of organic lesion. Atherosclerosis.

There is much cardiac irritability by lying on the left side. Motion aggravates. Lilium is useful in conditions of nervous palpitation, and in functional cardiac disorders in women with uterine disease.

20. Arsenicum Album

Like Lachesis, Arsenicum Album is more adapted to later stages of heart trouble, when the course is downwards.

Arsenicum produces great irregularity of the heart, or the pulse may be quick and weak. It is especially useful in pericarditis or endocarditis after suppression of measles or scarlatina.

A grand remedy in disease of the heart depending upon constitutional causes like sepsis, also in affections of the heart depending upon fatty degeneration of the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis.

Restlessness will be present, and oedema, puffiness of the eyes and swelling of the feet. Great dyspnea, attacks of suffocations at night on lying down and particularly after midnight.

Phosphorus affects rather the right heart producing a venous stagnation, and it is exceedingly useful in fatty degeneration of this organ, atherosclerosis. Arsenicum rather affects the left heart, has more oppression of the chest in breathing, more orthopnea and more anasarca. The patient cannot lie down or go upstairs.

21. Collinsonia

In functional disorders of the heart, Collinsonia is an excellent remedy, especially when they are reflex from hemorrhoidal troubles or alternate with them. Although the proving does not indicate a specific action on the heart, it has been found useful where there is much cardiac irritability, traceable to suppressed hemorrhoidal bleeding, the cardiac nerves seem irritated, and there is great sensitiveness about the heart, fullness and oppression about the chest, with difficulty in breathing and faintness. Atherosclerosis.

It cured for the writer a case of severe constrictive pain about the heart in a man who habitually passed blood with this stool; upon the disappearance of the blood from the stools the heart symptoms commenced and when the flow of blood became re-established the heart symptoms disappeared.

Collinsonia entirely cured both conditions. A characterizing indication is a persistent, rapid n, but weak pulse; the action is excessive, but the force is deficient.

Collinsonia acts on the heart by removing obstruction or irritations in the liver, portal system, or kidneys, and by increasing muscular tonicity.

22. Strychnia

This is a pure and simple heart stimulant. Its only legitimate field is when paralysis threatens and during the course of any affection, you have dyspnea, blueness of the fingertips and lips, sour eructation and symptoms of disturbed digestion. Here 1/64 of a grain hypodermically may bridge the chasm.

Its frequent and injudicious use is more than harmful and leads to an increased mortality in many affections. Caffeine is another powerful heart energizer but is not a curative remedy.

P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).

For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.

None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.

To order medicine by courier, please send your details at WhatsApp– +923119884588

Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.

  Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.

Location:  Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.

Find more about Dr Sayed Qaisar Ahmed at:

https://www.youtube.com/Dr Qaisar Ahmed

https://www.facebook.com/dr.qaisar.dixecosmetics

https://www.drqaisarahmed.com