Atherosclerosis: symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Definition

What is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a disease that occurs when plaque (fatty deposits) blocks your arteries. Plaque is formed from fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood.

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Meanwhile, the coronary arteries are special arteries that carry blood to all parts of the heart (the source of oxygen and nutrients for the heart).

As plaque develops, one type of artery is affected.

Over time, plaque can partially or completely block blood flow through the large and medium-sized arteries in the heart, muscles, pelvis, legs, arms, or kidneys. If you have this, these conditions can trigger various other conditions, namely:

• Coronary heart disease (plaque in the coronary arteries or leading to the entire heart)
• Angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle)
• Carotid artery disease (plaque in the neck arteries that supply blood to the brain)
• Peripheral artery disease or PAD (plaque in the arteries of the extremities, especially the legs)
• Chronic kidney disease

How common is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. As you get older, your risk for developing atherosclerosis increases.

Genetic or lifestyle factors cause plaque to build up in your blood vessels as you get older. By the time you are middle age or older, enough plaque has built up to cause signs or symptoms.

In men, the risk increases after age 45. In women, the risk increases after age 55.

However, this can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis does not occur immediately, but gradually. Mild atherosclerosis usually causes no symptoms.

Generally, you will not show symptoms of atherosclerosis until an artery is so narrowed or blocked that it can't provide enough blood for organs and tissues. Sometimes, a blood clot completely blocks the flow of blood, or even breaks it and can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

From moderate to severe depending on the arteries affected, the symptoms of atherosclerosis are:

• Chest pain

If you have atherosclerosis in the heart arteries, you can show symptoms, such as pain or pressure in the chest (angina).

• Numb

If you have atherosclerosis in an artery leading to the brain, you may develop signs and symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, temporary loss of vision in one eye, or a muscle in the face.

These are signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which, if left untreated, can progress to a stroke.

• Pain when walking

If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries of your arms and legs, you could show symptoms of peripheral artery disease, such as leg pain when walking (claudication).

• High blood pressure

If you develop atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to your kidneys, you will experience high blood pressure or kidney failure.

When should I see a doctor?

Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the worsening of atherosclerosis and prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other medical emergency, so check with your doctor as soon as possible to prevent this serious condition.

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above, or have any questions, please consult your doctor.

Everyone's body reacts differently. It is always best to discuss what is best for your situation with your doctor.

Cause

What causes atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a disease that develops slowly and gradually. This disease usually begins to appear in childhood.

In some people, the disease develops rapidly in their 30s. Some cases show the disease is not dangerous until they are 50 to 60 years of age.

Plaque buildup and hardening of the arteries restrict blood flow in the arteries, preventing organs and tissues from getting the full oxygen blood needed for bodily functions.

How this condition started or the exact cause is still unknown, but several theories have been used to explain it. According to the American Heart Association, many scientists believe that this condition occurs when the inner lining of the arteries (called the endothelium) is damaged.

Common causes of atherosclerosis are:

High cholesterol

Cholesterol is a yellow, soft substance found naturally in the body and also in certain foods that you eat. These substances can build up in the blood and clog arteries, becoming hard plaques that restrict or block blood circulation to the heart and other organs.

Fat

Eating foods that are high in fat can also cause plaque buildup.

Aging

As you get older, your heart and blood vessels work harder to pump and receive blood. Arteries can weaken and become less elastic, making them vulnerable to plaque buildup.

Other common causes of atherosclerosis are:

• Smoking and other sources of tobacco
• Insulin resistance, obesity or diabetes
• Inflammation due to a disease, such as arthritis, lupus or infection, or inflammation without a known cause.

Smoking has a big role in the growth of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, aorta, and arteries in the legs. Smoking allows fat deposits to form more easily and to grow bigger and faster.

What increases the risk of atherosclerosis?

There are many factors that can put you at risk for atherosclerosis. Some risks are preventable, while others are not.

Family history

If atherosclerosis runs in your family, you may be at risk for hardening of the arteries. This condition, and other heart-related problems, can be inherited.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure can damage blood vessels by making them weak in certain areas. Cholesterol and other substances in the blood can reduce the flexibility of the arteries over time.

High levels of CRP protein

According to the U.S National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, scientists are developing further research to look for other risk factors for atherosclerosis.

High levels of protein called C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood can increase the risk of these conditions and heart attacks. High levels of CRP are a sign of inflammation in the body.

Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection. Damage to the inner walls of the arteries appears to trigger inflammation and plaque growth.

People who have low CRP levels can develop atherosclerosis at a slower rate than people with high CRP levels. Research is being done to find out whether reducing CRP levels can also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Triglyceride levels

High levels of triglycerides in the blood can also increase the risk of this condition, especially in women. Triglycerides are a type of fat.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes one or more pauses in breath or shortness of breath while you sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart attack or stroke.

Stress

Research shows that the most commonly reported triggers for heart attacks are emotionally upsetting events, especially those involving anger.

Drink alcohol

Drinking alcohol to excess can damage the heart muscle and worsen other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Men should not drink more than two drinks containing alcohol a day.

Meanwhile, women should not drink more than one drink containing alcohol a day.

Other risk factors for atherosclerosis are:

• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Family history of early heart disease
• Lack of exercise
• Unhealthy diet

Diagnosis

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?

During a physical exam, your doctor may find signs of narrowing, enlarging or hardening of the arteries, including:

• A pulse that is not felt or is weak in the area where the artery is narrowed
• Decrease in blood pressure in the affected leg
• Whisper sound (bruit) in the arteries heard using a stethoscope

Depending on the results of the physical exam, your doctor may order one or more diagnostic tests, including:

Blood test

Lab tests can detect cholesterol and blood sugar levels that can increase the risk of atherosclerosis. You must fast and drink only plain water for 9 to 12 hours before the blood test.

Doppler ultrasound

Your doctor can use an ultrasound device (Doppler ultrasound) to measure blood pressure at various points along your arm or leg. This measurement can help the doctor measure any blockages as well as the flow rate of blood in the arteries.

Angkle-brachial index

This test can show if you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your legs and feet. Your doctor can compare the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm.

This is called the ankle-brachial index. Abnormal differences can indicate peripheral vascular disease which is usually caused by atherosclerosis.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An ECG can often show evidence of a heart attack. If your signs and symptoms occur most frequently during your exercise, your doctor may ask you to walk on the treadmill or ride a bike during the ECG.

Stress level

A stress test, also called a treadmill stress test, is used to gather information about how well your heart is working during physical activity.

Because exercise makes the heart pump harder and faster than when doing most daily activities, a treadmill stress test can show problems with the heart that could not be detected in other ways.

A stress test usually consists of walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored.

Cardiac catheterization and angiogram

This test can show if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. The liquid dye is injected into the heart arteries through a long, thin tube (catheter) that is inserted through one artery, usually in the leg, into an artery in the heart.

As the dye fills the arteries, they become visible on an X-ray, showing areas of blockage.

Other imaging tests

Your doctor can use an ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to study your arteries. These tests can often show hardening and narrowing of the large arteries, as well as aneurysms and calcium deposits on the artery walls.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

What are the treatments for atherosclerosis?

Treatment includes changing your current lifestyle to one that limits the amount of fat and cholesterol you consume.

The goals in this treatment are:

• Reducing the risk of blood clots forming
• Prevent atherosclerosis-related diseases
• Reducing risk factors in an attempt to slow or stop plaque buildup
• Relieves symptoms

You need more exercise to improve heart and blood vessel health. Medical treatments for atherosclerosis are:

Drugs

Medicines can help prevent the worsening of atherosclerosis. These drugs include:

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs, including statins and fibric acid derivatives
• Anti-thrombotic and anticoagulant drugs, such as aspirin, to prevent blood clots and blockages in the arteries
• Beta blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure
• Diuretic or water pills, to help lower blood pressure
• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which help prevent narrowing of the arteries

Operation

In some cases, surgery is needed if symptoms are severe, or if muscle or skin tissue is threatened. Possible operations to treat atherosclerosis are:

• Bypass surgery, which involves using a blood vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic tube to bend the blood around the blocked or narrowed artery
• Thrombolytic therapy, which involves dissolving the blood clot by injecting a drug into the affected artery
• Angioplasty, which involves using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter and a balloon to expand the artery
• Endarteretomy, which involves the surgical removal of fatty deposits from the arteries
• Atherectomy, which involves removing plaque from the artery using a catheter with a sharp knife tip

Installation of a stent or ring

In this procedure, the doctor places a stent or ring, which is a small cylinder of wire during an angioplasty.

During an angioplasty, your doctor will first insert a catheter into an artery in your leg or arm. The catheter is then moved to the area of ​​concern, usually the coronary arteries.

By injecting a dye that is visible on a live X-ray screen, the doctor can monitor for blockages. The doctor then opens the blockage using a small tool at the end of the catheter.

During the process, a balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated inside the blockage to open it.

The ring can be placed in this process and deliberately left behind once the balloon and catheter are removed.

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat atherosclerosis?

The following home remedies can help you reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, are:

• Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol
• Avoid fatty foods
• Add fish to your diet twice per week
• Exercise for 30 to 60 minutes per day, six days per week
• Quit smoking if you are a smoker
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
• Overcoming stress
• Treat conditions associated with atherosclerosis, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to understand the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.