Fortunately, endothelial dysfunction is often reversible.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins can also treat the condition.
This article discusses endothelial dysfunction, including its symptoms and causes.
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It also covers how endothelial dysfunction is diagnosed and treated.
This layer has several critical functions in the body.
The endothelium maintains the proper dilation and constriction of the blood vessels.
This function determines how much blood is received by the body’s various tissues on a moment-to-moment basis.
The proper functioning of the endothelium is critical for the normal function of the bodys tissues and organs.
NO is a gas that is produced by the metabolism of the amino acid L-arginine.
It acts locally within blood vessels to help modulate vascular tone and other important endothelial duties.
Lifestyle habits can also contribute to lower levels of NO.
For instance, some studies have shown that people who smoke cigarettes exhale less NO than non-smokers.
Some people also feel shortness of breath.
People often find that the chest pain is worse when they are physically active or experiencing emotional stress.
How Endothelial Dysfunction Is Diagnosed
Making a formal diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction is usually not necessary.
However, actually measuring a patient’s endothelial function is not something providers routinely do.
Some people find that lifestyle changes alone help, while others feel better when they also take medication.
This process helps see to it that the blood that goes to your heart has more oxygen in it.
Summary
Endothelial dysfunction refers to impaired functioning of the lining of blood vessels.
The primary symptom of endothelial dysfunction in the coronary arteries is chest pain.
It happens because the vessels in the heart are unable to dilate.
Over time, people who have endothelial dysfunction can develop more serious heart conditions.
Making lifestyle changes and taking medications can help manage the condition and may even reverse it.
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