Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your
heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible, strong
and elastic. Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries
can make the walls thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood
flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called
arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms
are sometimes used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the
buildup of fats in and on your artery walls (plaques), which can
restrict blood flow. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood
clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem,
it can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis is a
preventable and treatable condition. Consult to
Cosmetologist in Delhi for best treatment
.
Signs and symptoms
Atherosclerosis does not occur in children, but can begin forming as
early as the teen years. Until progressing to an advanced stage, it
is usually asymptomatic. Atheroma in arm, or more often in
leg arteries, which produces decreased blood flow is
called peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD).
Typically, atherosclerosis begins as a thin layer of white streaks on
the artery wall (usually due to white blood cells) and progresses
from there.
Most artery flow disrupting events occur at locations with less than
50% lumen narrowing
(~20% stenos is
average). The illustration above, like most illustrations of arterial
disease, overemphasizes lumen narrowing, as opposed to compensatory
external diameter enlargement (at least within smaller arteries,
e.g., heart arteries) typical of the atherosclerosis process as it
progresses. The relative geometry error within the illustration is
common to many older illustrations, an error slowly being more
commonly recognized within the last decade.
Causes
The main cause of atherosclerosis is yet unknown, but is hypothesized
to fundamentally be initiated by inflammatory processes in the vessel
wall in response to retained low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
molecules. Once inside the vessel wall, LDL molecules become
susceptible to oxidation by free radicals, and become toxic
to the cells. The damage caused by the oxidized LDL molecules
triggers a cascade of immune responses which over time can produce an
atheroma. The LDL molecule is globular shaped with a hollow core to
carry cholesterol throughout the body. Consult to
Cosmetologist in Gurgaon and
Cosmetologist in Faridabad for best treatment.
The body's immune system responds to the damage to the artery wall
caused by oxidized LDL by sending specialized white blood cells
(macrophages and T-lymphocytes)
to absorb the oxidized-LDL forming specialized foam
cells. These white blood cells are not able to process the
oxidized-LDL, and ultimately grow then rupture, depositing a greater
amount of oxidized cholesterol into the artery wall. This triggers
more white blood cells, continuing the cycle. Consult to
Cosmetologist in Noida and
Cosmetologist in Ghaziabad for best treatment.
Risk
factors
Hardening
of the arteries occurs over time. In addition to simply getting
older, factors that increase the risk of atherosclerosis include:
Diagnosis
Your
doctor may find signs of narrowed, enlarged or hardened arteries
during a physical exam. These include:
A weak or absent pulse below the narrowed area of your artery
Decreased blood pressure in an affected limb
Whooshing sounds (bruits) over your arteries, heard with a
stethoscope
Signs of a pulsating bulge (aneurysm) in your abdomen or behind your
knee
Evidence of poor wound healing in the area where your blood flow is
restricted
Depending
on the results of the physical exam, your doctor may suggest one or
more diagnostic tests, including:
Blood tests. Lab tests can detect increased levels of
cholesterol and blood sugar that may increase the risk of
atherosclerosis. You'll need to go without eating or drinking
anything but water for nine to 12 hours before your blood test. Your
doctor should tell you ahead of time if this test will be performed
during your visit.
Doppler ultrasound. Your doctor may use a special ultrasound
device (Doppler ultrasound) to measure your blood pressure at
various points along your arm or leg. These measurements can help
your doctor gauge the degree of any blockages, as well as the speed
of blood flow in your arteries.
Electrocardiogram (ECG). An electrocardiogram records
electrical signals as they travel through your heart. An ECG can
often reveal evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's in
progress. If your signs and symptoms occur most often during
exercise, your doctor may ask you to walk on a treadmill or ride a
stationary bike during an ECG.
Other imaging tests. Your doctor may use ultrasound, a
computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance angiogram
(MRA) to study your arteries. These tests can often show hardening
and narrowing of large arteries, as well as aneurysms and calcium
deposits in the artery walls.
Treatments
Lifestyle
changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, are often the
best treatment for atherosclerosis. But sometimes, medication or
surgical procedures may be recommended as well.
Various
drugs can slow — or sometimes even reverse — the effects of
atherosclerosis. Here are some common choices:
Cholesterol medications. Aggressively lowering your low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, can
slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of fatty deposits in your
arteries. Boosting your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,
the "good" cholesterol, may help, too. Your doctor can
choose from a range of cholesterol medications, including drugs
known as statins and fibrates.
Anti-platelet medications. Your doctor may prescribe
anti-platelet medications, such as aspirin, to reduce the likelihood
that platelets will clump in narrowed arteries, form a blood clot
and cause further blockage.
Calcium channel blockers. These medications lower blood
pressure and are sometimes used to treat angina.
Water pills (diuretics). High blood pressure is a major risk
factor for atherosclerosis. Diuretics lower blood pressure.
Angioplasty. In this procedure, your doctor inserts a long,
thin tube (catheter) into the blocked or narrowed part of your
artery. A second catheter with a deflated balloon on its tip is then
passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is
then inflated, compressing the deposits against your artery walls. A
mesh tube (stent) is usually left in the artery to help keep the
artery open.
Thrombolytic therapy. If you have an artery that's blocked by a
blood clot, your doctor may insert a clot-dissolving drug into your
artery at the point of the clot to break it up.
Bypass surgery. Your doctor may create a graft bypass using a
vessel from another part of your body or a tube made of synthetic
fabric. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed
artery
Drugs:
Drugs that may be prescribed
by the specialist may include:
Statins to Lower Bad
Cholesterol
Fibrates to Reduce
Triglycerides
Niacin to Improve
Overall Cholesterol
Bile acid sequestrants
(cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam)
Plant sterols
Lovaza (an
omega-3-acid)
Alternative
medicine
It's
thought that some foods and herbal supplements can help reduce your
high cholesterol leveland high blood pressure, two major risk factors
for developing atherosclerosis. With your doctor's OK, consider these
supplements and products:
Talk
to your doctor before adding any of these supplements to your
atherosclerosis treatment. Some supplements can interact with
medications, causing harmful side effects.
Complications:
The complications of
atherosclerosis depend on the location of the blocked arteries. It
may include:
Prevention
The
same healthy lifestyle changes recommended to treat atherosclerosis
also help prevent it. These include:
Just
remember to make changes one step at a time, and keep in mind what
lifestyle changes are manageable for you in the long run.