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Atherosclerosis is a
kind of disease in which arterial blood vessels get affected. In this
disease hardening or furring of arteries takes place as a result of
the formation of plaques inside the arteries. This plaque consists of
three different parts, namely:
1. Atheroma, the soft yellow material
composed of macrophages near the lumen of the arteries
2. Cholesterol
3. Calcium deposits
The term “Atherosclerosis” should
not be confused with “Arteriosclerosis” as in arteriosclerosis
only medium or large arteries get affected (hardened) whereas
atherosclerosis refers to the hardening of any artery- be it small,
medium or major. Thus atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis leads to two severe
complications. First, it results in the narrowing of the arteries or
stenosis, which results in the less flow of blood to the organ it get
into. Secondly, it creates aneurysm. Aneursym is the blood filled
bulge in the blood vessels created due to the disease. It can burst
at any time which can be fatal at times.
All these complications do not happen
suddenly rather they take time making the problem chronic. The most
advanced stages of the hardening of the arteries are known as
coronary thrombosis and claudication. Thrombosis sometimes causes
myocardial infarction or heart attack. Claudication results in the
insufficient supply of blood to the legs. Moreover, it can happen to
the other parts of the body such as kidney, intestine and brain.
Symptoms:
Atherosclerosis usually starts in
adolescent stage and affects some major arteries. But the problem is
that it can not be detected during lifetime. It becomes symptomatic
only when it affects coronary or cerebral circulation cutting the
supply of blood to the heart and brain. This is why atherosclerosis
is called the most potent cause of the heart stroke, heart attacks,
heart congestion or cardiovascular diseases as a whole.
According to a study conducted in
America, sudden cardiac arrest was found to be the first symptom of
atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in almost 62 per cent of
males and 43 per cent of females. Cardiac stress testing can detect
the less flow of blood or lumen narrowing. Nuclear test method is
another means to detect this disease.
Risk factors for atherosclerosis:
Some anatomic, physiological and
behavioral factors (congenital, acquired or modified) are:
1. High cholesterol level
2. Advanced age
3. Diabetes
4. High blood pressure
5. Smoking
6. High serum level of uric acid
7. Male sex hormone
8. High intake of saturated fat
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