What is Atherosclerosis?

About Atherosclerosis:

• It is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries.
  • Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues throughout your body.
  • Plaque is a sticky substance made up of cholesterol, fat, blood cells, calcium, and other substances found in the blood.
• Over time, plaque hardens and causes arteries to narrow. That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body.
• Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries, which means that the arteries thicken and become less flexible. It can have several different causes.
• Atherosclerosis, which develops from plaque buildup, is a common type of arteriosclerosis.
• What causes atherosclerosis?
  • Plaque often starts to build up during childhood and gets worse with age.
  • The exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe that this buildup happens when there is damage to the arteries. This damage may be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, medical conditions, and your genes.
  • Recent studies also point that atherosclerosis meets the criteria for an autoimmune disease.
• Atherosclerosis can affect most of the arteries in the body. It has different names, based on which arteries are affected:
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart.
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. It most often affects the arteries of legs, but it can also affect the arteries of arms or pelvis.
  • Carotid artery disease is plaque buildup in the neck arteries. It reduces blood flow to the brain.
  • Renal artery stenosis is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to kidneys.
  • Vertebral artery disease is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the back of brain.
  • Mesenteric artery ischemia is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply intestines with blood.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms usually depend on the arteries that are affected, and the most common include:
    • chest pain (or angina)
    • feeling confused, as a result of limited blood flow to your brain
    • difficulty breathing
    • feeling very tired (fatigued)
    • pain in any of limbs, where there may be a blocked artery weak muscles
  • Atherosclerosis can cause other health problems, or complications.
• Treatment: Treating atherosclerosis may include having a heart-healthy lifestyle and taking medicines.