Atherosclerosis
The Treatment of Atherosclerosis
What is the treatment to be followed in the case of atherosclerosis?
If your atherosclerosis leads to symptoms, these symptoms (as would angina) can be treated. Medicines are usually the first step in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Other treatments such as angioplasty procedures contemplated to open clogged arteries and surgery such as bypass surgery or revascularization (bypass surgery.)
If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or high blood cholesterol, could also treat these conditions. Lower your blood cholesterol can slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of plaque. Cholesterol reduction also can reduce the cholesterol content in unstable plaques to make them more stable and less prone to breakage. Read the rest of this entry »
Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?
If you do not have any symptoms or have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease will be difficult to say if your arteries are clogged with plaque. But if you have high blood cholesterol, overweight and get little exercise, smoke or have other risk factors, chances are you have atherosclerosis. Over time, can lead to heart disease, stroke or other problems.
There are several tests used by doctors to diagnose heart disease, among them are blood tests, electrocardiograms (ECG), stress testing, coronary angiography, ultrasound and computed tomography (TC.) If you have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, your doctor may recommend that you get tested. Read the rest of this entry »
Factors that Increase Atherosclerosis
What factors increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis?
The following factors may increase the chance of atherosclerosis:
- Have the level of high blood cholesterol, especially elevated levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and low HDL (“good” cholesterol.)
- The age and being male (women are more affected after menopause.)
- Having close relatives with heart disease or had a stroke at relatively young ages
- Have high blood pressure
- Have diabetes
- Smoking Read the rest of this entry »
The Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
Normally there are no symptoms until one or more arteries are so clogged with plaque, which dramatically reduces the blood flow. This reduction in blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body (the heart) is called ischemia and can cause pain or discomfort. Some people have no symptoms until it forms a blood clot that completely blocks an already narrowed artery, causing a heart attack or stroke.
The symptoms you have depend on which arteries are badly clogged and what part of the body is affected by reduced blood flow.
- If you are affected arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle, you will have a coronary artery disease (EAC.) may have a chest pain called angina, which occurs when it tries too hard and goes away when you rest. You may also have a heart attack. Read the rest of this entry »
Plaque and Its Formation in Arteries
What is plaque?
Plaque is a combination of cholesterol, other fatty substances (fat), calcium and blood components that adheres to the inside walls of the arteries. A shell, or hard scar covers the plaque. This board has various sizes and shapes. Some plates are fragile and can rupture or burst. When this happens, blood clots form within arteries. If the clot blocks the artery completely, blood flow stops completely. This is what happens in most heart attacks and strokes. Read the rest of this entry »
Atherosclerosis
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty deposits called plaque inside the walls of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the heart, brain and other body parts. As plaque builds up in the artery, it gradually narrows and becomes clogged. As more and more an artery is narrowed, less blood can pass.
The artery can also become less elastic (this is called “hardening of the arteries.”) Atherosclerosis is the main cause of a group of diseases called cardiovascular diseases – diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Read the rest of this entry »