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Conditions |
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Cardiovascular Diseases
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Cardiovascular disease represents the class of diseases related to the heart and/or blood vessels such as arteries and veins. However, it is often used to indicate coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is a condition that the arteries become clogged and narrowed, and the restriction of blood flow to the heart occurs. Without adequate blood flow, the heart becomes deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients, and eventually it ceases to work properly. Pathophysiological progress of coronary artery disease consists of multiple sets of complex procedures involving numerous biological molecules and their biological actions. Among them, inflammation is a key risk-factor in the progress of the disease. Traditionally, inflammation has been often treated by numerous medicinal plants (e.g., Salix, Wintergreen, Garlic). However, as the progress of modern medicines, a variety of anti-inflammatory drugs were explored and developed (Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)). Particularly, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are able to alleviate pain by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, thereby keeping the prostaglandins from being synthesized, reducing or eliminating the pain. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. |
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Research Information & Practical Approaches |
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As discussed above, a healthy maintenance of cardiovascular system may be beneficial to dealing with problems derived from heart diseases.
In practical and nutritional perspectives, there are a couple of things you can do.
* Practice a balanced and healthy diet using fruits and vegetables with anti-inflammatory properties (e.g., herb, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts )..
* Maintain your body weight and shape at healthy levels (e.g., check your BMI index).
* Perform a regular exercise (e.g., at least 15-30 min daily) appropriate to your health conditions.
* Avoid unnecessary stresses (e.g., physical, emotional, psychological).
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An
example of bio-active compounds investigated in Dr.
Park's laboratory
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