Damage to the arterial wall:
Supported by medical research, we believe homocysteines cut, tear or damage the inside wall of an artery (called the arterial wall.) Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to all the cells. When an arterial wall is damaged, the body reacts immediately to repair it. The disease has begun. If any body tissue is at risk, its called cardiovascular disease. If any heart tissue is at risk, its called heart disease.

Monocytes and macrophages to the rescue?
First to arrive on the scene of the damage are the circulating immune system cells, called monocytes. These monocytes enter the open wound where they mature into macrophage. Macrophages protect the area from infection by engulfing and disposing of any foreign invaders. With the area well protected, cellular repairs to the arterial wall can begin.

LEGEND: unknown threat piece of LDL fat macrophages O2 oxygen (air) Glucose food / fuel

Many body systems are active in repairing the arterial wall.

The LDL cholesterol builds up on the wall:
Circulating fat or LDL bad cholesterol becomes stuck in the wound. The macrophages engulf these oxidized fat invaders. In the process, however, the invaders & macrophages die. The area swells and becomes inflamed. Similar to a cut healing (scabbing) on your arm the area is red, swelling, and inflamed. What's different with this wound? It's on the inside of the body. Inside an artery, and the LDL fat is entering the open wound. The body has a difficult time repairing the damage.

LDL cholesterol hardens into arterial plaque:
Inside the artery, the wound becomes larger as it swells and inflames. The body reacts by building a tough scar-like covering over the open wound. Meanwhile, more LDL fat gets stuck. Some bad cholesterol sticks to the arterial wall. Over time this bad cholesterol hardens into a substance called arterial plaque. It's believed that this plaque is as hard as the plaque that's scraped off your teeth. Try to remove that, ouch!

Current beliefs about arterial plaque:
Arterial plaque is made of harden LDL cholesterol. Heart and cardiovascular disease experts, medical schools, and your doctor believes that if arterial plaque is allowed to build up a heart attack or a stroke is inevitable. They treat the high LDL blood levels so arterial plaque won't build up.

Editorial note:
Heart and cardiovascular disease experts, medical schools, and your doctor do not accept that high homocysteine blood levels have anything to do with arterial plaque. This was not taught in medical school, therefore no relationship exists. Your doctor says, if no relationship exists, blood tests for homocysteine levels are not required.

These doctors treat different subjects. Doctors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped giving farm animals homocysteine injections over 5 years ago. These doctors found the injected animals developed arterial plaque.

Now back to the subject: "events leading to a heart attack."

. . . the events leading to a heart attack, part 2
is continued on the next page