In the presence of aging and disease, the cells' ability to move metal ions through the system and eliminate them when they are in excess becomes progressively impaired. This is especially true for calcium.

Calcium has vital functions in the human body. Without calcium, teeth and bones could not exist. Nevertheless, as the body ages, oxidation of lipids damages the walls of the arterial tree which is repaired with fatty substances leaving a scar. Calcium and oxidized cholesterol are incorporated into the resulting scar tissue. The resulting lesion is called an atherosclerotic plaque and the disease process is called atherosclerosis.

"Hardening of the arteries," or arteriosclerosis, on the other hand, is apparently an inevitable change of aging. The walls of blood vessels become stiffer as time passes, as does all connective tissue of the body. This is caused by cross-linkage of collagen, the protein which makes up the connective tissue of artery walls and by diffuse deposition of calcium in the walls of the arterial system. This cross-linkage and calcium deposition results in loss of elasticity and flexibility.

With atherosclerosis, as the years pass, calcium deposits build up, and calcified atherosclerotic plaques form, lining the walls of the arterial vessels. This plaque is composed of various lipids, so-called foam cells, scar tissue, and overgrown smooth muscles cells from the artery wall. In many people, this process begins in early childhood.  

The exact content of the plaques is determined by the individual's diet, antioxidant intake and duration of the process. Regardless of where on the atherosclerotic continuum any particular individual falls, the result is the same: less and less fresh oxygen delivered to the tissues of the body.

It once was thought this process began in middle or old age. It is now known to begin in childhood in many people. The severity of this life-long process is determined by genetics, level of exercise and dietary habits.By age 21, many individuals have arterial disease, easily recognized at surgery or autopsy.

This is a disease of modern civilization. Never before have people so young had atherosclerosis. As recently as the year 1900, heart disease was very rare. It may be that airborne industrial pollutants, as well as herbicides, pesticides and preservatives in our food, have something to do with the development of atherosclerosis.

The effect of this process on the heart is angina (chest pain originating in the heart) and eventually infarction and death. Poor blood supply to the stomach and small intestines results in poor digestion. Poor blood supply to the colon causes slowing of the colon with resulting colon disease. Poor blood supply to the joints facilitates arthritis.

The effect on the extremities is cold hands and feet, and in an advanced case, gangrene of the extremities can result. In less advanced cases the backs of the lower legs ache with exercise. This is called claudication. Impotence can be caused by decreased blood flow to the penis due to clogged arterioles. Frigidity can be caused by decreased blood flow to the pelvis. Cancer is known to be accelerated by decreased blood flow to the affected tissues. When blood flow is decreased to the immunocompetent cells in the bone marrow and spleen, the immune system itself is weakened. When this process affects the blood vessels supplying the brain, stroke or transient ischemic attacks may occur. A stroke involves at least temporary non-function of brain cells which may become permanent if oxygen does not arrive within a few minutes. Transient ischemic attacks are spells of dizziness caused by poor circulation to the brain.

The list of pains, aches, discomforts and diseases caused, or made worse by, atherosclerosis goes on and on. The above discussion is not complete and could not be made complete unless expanded to book size. Conventional medicine has nothing to offer which will reverse this disease. Fortunately, there is a way to deal with atherosclerosis. The answer is intravenous chelation- plaquex therapy.