Gallstones
in the Liver:
A Major
Health
Risk * 2 9
huge efforts, and the body becomes unable to perform even the simplest of tasks. One of the body's first and most efficient approaches for avoiding the danger of an imminent heart attack is to take excessive proteins out of the bloodstream and store them elsewhere, for the time being (see Figure 8). The only place where protein can be accommodated in large quantities is the blood vessel network. The capillary walls are able to absorb most of the excessive, unused, or unusable protein. The body converts the soluble protein into collagen fiber, which is 100 percent protein, and stores it in the basal membrane of the blood vessel walls. The basal membrane has the capacity to increase its thickness
THICKENING OF BLOOD CAPILLARY WALL Cells Non-congested Basal or Basement Membrane
Basal Membranes, •w«_ packed with layers \ of protein fiber ^ ^ _ ^ (collagen) ^ y * Normal uptake of metabolic waste by lymph vessel Cancer cells Accumulated metabolic waste matter
HARDENING OF ARTERY Wounds and Lesions Stored proteins •
i
Cholesterol forms // protective protective bandage Danaagi
m^SS£^^^pmh^vfT~~-^*S
"•* "
- "act
Lipoprotein 5 • Thickened Basal or Basement Membrane
Figure 8: The beginning stages of heart disease