Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis): Causes, symptoms, and more (original) (raw)

Atherosclerosis happens when arteries become narrow and hard due to a buildup of plaque around the artery wall. Atherosclerosis can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other complications.

The plaque that is the cause of atherosclerosis consists of cholesterol, calcium, fat, and other substances, and it can harder over time.

Smoking, high blood pressure and other factors increase the risk of developing the condition.

The changes in a person’s arteries disrupt the flow of blood around the body and increase the risk of complications, such as heart attack or stroke. These complications can be life threatening.

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A person with atherosclerosis may experience difficulty breathing and weakness.

Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup on the artery walls.

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.

Over time, plaque can build up and become hard.

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.

Atherosclerosis usually affects older people, but it can start to develop during adolescence. Inside the artery, streaks of white blood cells will appear on the artery wall.

Often, there are no symptoms until a bit of plaque ruptures, or the blood flow becomes restricted. This may take many years to occur.

The symptoms of atherosclerosis depend on which arteries are affected.

Carotid arteries

Carotid arteries provide blood to the brain. Restricted blood supply can lead to a stroke.

Symptoms of stroke can appear suddenly and include:

• weakness
• difficulty breathing
• headache
• facial numbness
• paralysis

If a person has signs of a stroke, they need immediate medical attention.

Coronary arteries

Coronary arteries provide blood to the heart. When the blood supply to the heart falls, it can cause angina and heart attack.

A person may experience:

• chest pain
• vomiting
• extreme anxiety
• coughing
• faintness

Renal arteries

Renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys. If the blood supply becomes limited, chronic kidney disease may develop.

Someone with renal artery blockage significant enough to cause chronic kidney disease may experience:

• loss of appetite
• swelling of the hands and feet
• difficulty concentrating

Peripheral arteries

These arteries supply blood to the arms, legs, and pelvis.

If blood cannot circulate effectively, a person may experience numbness and pain in their limbs. In severe cases, tissue death and gangrene can occur.

Atherosclerosis can be life threatening, but treatment is available. Receiving treatment early can reduce the risk of severe complications.

Treatment aims to slow or stop the development of plaque, prevent blood clots forming, and treat symptoms.

Options include:

• lifestyle changes
• medications
• surgery

Lifestyle changes

Research shows that the following lifestyle choices might reduce the risk:

• avoiding or quitting smoking
• consuming alcohol in moderation
• getting regular exercise
• following a healthful diet
• maintaining a healthy weight

Adopting these practices from early adulthood may help prevent problems later in life.

Medication

A doctor will prescribe medications to suit an individual’s needs, depending on their overall health and other conditions.

Drugs known as statins can help manage a person’s cholesterol levels.

Other medications can lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar, and prevent clots and inflammation.

People should follow their doctor’s instructions and not discontinue a drug without seeking medical advice. They should also follow a healthful lifestyle, as well as using medication.

Surgery

Sometimes a person will need surgery to ensure that blood in their arteries continues to flow effectively.

Options include:

• using a stent to widen the blood vessel
• bypass surgery to carry blood around the affected area
• surgery to remove plaque buildup, for example, in the neck

These options may help a person with severe atherosclerosis.

The complications of atherosclerosis include:

• heart disease, heart attack, or heart failure
• peripheral artery disease
• kidney failure
• aneurysm
• stroke
• irregular heart rhythms and palpitations
• embolism when a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to another part of the bloodstream

People with a higher risk of atherosclerosis include those with:

• diabetes or insulin resistance
• a family history of cardiovascular disease
• a history of tobacco smoking
• high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol
• low physical activity levels
• older age
• a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar
• high blood pressure
• obesity
• high levels of triglycerides in the blood
• stress
• high alcohol intake
• sleep apnea

Recent evidence indicates that inflammation may play a role. Research suggests that air pollution could increase the risk by triggering inflammation.

Atherosclerosis is a serious condition that can have life threatening consequences. It can affect people of any age, but symptoms are most likely to appear as people get older.

One way to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis is to follow a healthful lifestyle from an early age. For those with atherosclerosis, a doctor can advise on treatment and lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of complications.