This prevents your organs and tissues from getting the oxygenated blood they need to function. If the levels of cholesterol in your blood are too high, it can clog your arteries. It becomes a hard plaque that restricts or blocks blood circulation to your heart and other organs. As you age, your heart and blood vessels work harder to pump and receive blood.
Your arteries may stiffen and become less elastic, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup. Your doctor will perform a physical exam if you have symptoms of atherosclerosis. A cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any atypical sounds. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis. Treatment involves changing your current lifestyle to decrease the amount of fat and cholesterol you consume.
You can exercise more to improve the health of your heart and blood vessels. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes as the first line of treatment. You may also need additional medical treatments, such as medications or surgery. Aspirin can be particularly effective for people with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. An aspirin regimen discussed with your doctor may potentially lower your risk of having another health event if you already have atherosclerosis.
The U. Preventive Services Task Force recently released updated guidelines on using aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
These guidelines may be relevant in discussions with your doctor. If you have no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, only use aspirin as a preventive medication if your risk of bleeding is low and your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is high. Always discuss an aspirin regimen with your doctor first. If symptoms are especially severe or if muscle or skin tissue are endangered, surgery may be necessary. Many factors place you at risk for atherosclerosis.
If atherosclerosis runs in your family , you may be at risk for hardening of the arteries. Thank you for your patience. View the changes to our visitor policy » View information for Guest Services ». New to MyHealth? Manage Your Care From Anywhere. Activate Account.
Create a New Account. Forgot Username or Password? Coronary angioplasty Coronary artery bypass graft surgery. What Causes Atherosclerosis? Some scientists think that certain risk factors may be associated with atherosclerosis, including: Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels High blood pressure Smoking Diabetes mellitus type 1 diabetes Obesity Physical inactivity.
How does atheroclerosis progress? Gangrene may occur, if the oxygenated blood supply is reduced to the arms and legs. This reduces blood flow and oxygen supply to the vital body organs and extremities. Signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis may develop gradually, and may be few, as the plaque gradually builds up in the artery. Symptoms may also vary depending on the affected artery.
However, when a major artery is blocked, signs and symptoms may be severe, such as those occurring with heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. The symptoms of atherosclerosis may look like other heart conditions. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. First, your doctor will do a complete medical history and physical exam. You may also have one or more of these tests:. Cardiac catheterization. With this procedure, a long thin tube catheter is passed into the coronary arteries.
X-rays are taken after a dye is injected into an artery to locate the narrowing, blockages, and other abnormalities of specific arteries. Doppler sonography. A special probe is used to direct sound waves into a blood vessel to evaluate blood flow. An audio receiver amplifies the sound of the blood moving though the vessel. Faintness or absence of sound may mean there is a blockage. This is used to identify narrowing of the blood vessels of the abdomen, neck, or legs. Blood pressure comparison.
Comparing blood pressure measurements in the ankles and in the arms helps determine any constriction in blood flow. Atherosclerosis happens when arteries become narrow and hard due to a buildup of plaque around the artery wall. Other terms for the condition include arteriosclerosis and hardening of the arteries. The plaque that is the cause of atherosclerosis consists of cholesterol, calcium, fat, and other substances, and it can harder over time.
These complications can be life threatening. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. A thin layer of cells forms a lining that keeps them smooth and allows blood to flow easily.
This is called the endothelium. Atherosclerosis happens when the endothelium becomes damaged, due to factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, or high levels of glucose, fat, and cholesterol in the blood.
This damage allows a collection of substances, known as plaque, to build up in the artery wall. These substances include fat and cholesterol.
If plaque continues to collect, it can block the artery and disrupt the flow of blood around the body. Sometimes, pieces of plaque break open. If this happens, particles from blood cells, known as platelets, gather in the affected area.
These can stick together, forming blood clots. A clot can block the artery, leading to life threatening complications, such as stroke and heart attack. Atherosclerosis can affect any artery, but it mainly occurs in the larger, high pressure arteries.
Find out the difference between a stroke and a heart attack, and how to recognize each, here.
0コメント