Golden advice from the expert... Pay attention to these suggestions to protect your veins.

Emphasizing the importance of vascular health, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Dr. Volkan Yurtman said, "Your heart is your most loyal worker, working your entire life without a single penny of pay or vacation. But if this worker's pathways, your arteries, begin to become clogged over time, then there's a big problem! The worst part is that these blockages are often silent. So, by the time you notice them, it's often too late."

Dr. Yurtman likened the body's veins to the water pipes in an apartment building. He explained that just as water pipes accumulate limescale, rust, and narrow over time, veins undergo a similar process: calcification of the arteries, known medically as "atherosclerosis." Dr. Yurtman explained that initially, nothing was noticeable, adding, "The water still flows, the heart still pumps. But if the tap suddenly stops working one day, that's what happens when a heart attack occurs."

"A PERSON WHO APPEARS HEALTHY ONE DAY MAY HAVE A HEART ATTACK THE NEXT DAY"

Dr. Yurtman explained that when the narrowing of arteries reaches 30-40 percent, symptoms are usually absent, and as the narrowing gradually increases, for example, when it approaches 70 percent, symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and leg fatigue begin to appear. He explained that in worse cases, plaques can sometimes suddenly rupture and form clots at as low as 50 percent, meaning someone who appears perfectly healthy can suffer a heart attack the next day.

"CHEST PAIN INDICATES HEART VESSELS"

Dr. Yurtman noted that there are subtle indicators of this condition when looked at carefully, saying, "A pressure in your chest or pain radiating to your arm indicates that your heart vessels are on alert. Slurred speech and blurred vision indicate cerebral vascular dysfunction. Calf pain felt while walking but relieved by stopping carries information from your leg veins. Resistant hypertension can indicate a problem with your kidney vessels."

Dr. Yurtman listed the groups at high risk for vascular calcification as follows: "Smokers often don't realize they're inhaling smoke not only into the lungs but also directly into the veins. Those with damaged hearts but high cholesterol, those with uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes, those with appetites so large they've enlarged their belly, and those who say, 'Heart attacks run in my family, but I'll be fine.'"

"SMOKING LESS IS NOT ENOUGH, YOU MUST STOP SMOKING"

Emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis, Dr. Yurtman stated that blood tests can measure cholesterol, sugar, and triglyceride levels, and a stress test can monitor heart performance. He added that an ultrasound (Doppler) can be used to examine the veins in the neck and legs, and a CT angiogram can be used to visualize the inside of the veins in three dimensions.

Dr. Yurtman offered the following advice for protecting your vascular health: "Quit smoking, really quit. Don't fool yourself by saying, 'I smoke less.' Follow a Mediterranean diet; remember that olive oil, fish, and vegetables are the heart-healthy trio. Exercise, stay active; at least you can walk briskly for 45 minutes at least three days a week. Monitor your weight. Especially if you're over 40, get regular check-ups."

Dr. Yurtman stated, "Atherosclerosis is silent, but its consequences are loud," pointing to serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. He emphasized that caring for vascular health also contributes to heart health, emphasizing early diagnosis and monitoring.