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Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words athero meaning gruel or paste and sclerosis meaning hardness. It's the name of the process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of the large and medium arteries. This build up is called plaque.
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| Diagram of Atherosclerosis |
The plaques can grow large enough to drastically reduce the blood flow through the arteries. A significant of the damage occurs when they rupture. Once ruptured plaques can cause blood clots to form, they can then travel to other parts of the body, or they can remain in place and obstruct the blood flow. If either of these types of clots blocks a blood vessel that leads directly to the heart, then it causes a heart attack. If the blood supply is constrained to the legs, then it can cause walking difficulties, and may over a period time lead to gangrene. When a blood vessel to the brain is restricted it causes a stroke.
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| The porridge-like atherosclerosis builds up within arteries |
Atherosclerosis also causes hypertension. As the blood is forced through the narrowing arteries, it exerts greater pressure on the walls. This also increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that typically starts in childhood and gets worse as people age. In some people it progresses rapidly, even in there thirties. Many doctors think that it is caused by damage to the endothelium, the interface between the blood and the artery.
SYMPTOMS
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Doesn't produce symptoms until the artery is severely restricted or obstructed.
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Chest pain
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Leg cramps
When arteries to the brain are affected.
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Headaches
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Dizzy spells
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Ringing of ear
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Memory problems
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Poor concentration
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Mood changes
When arteries to the heart are affected,
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Chest pain (angina)
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Elevated blood pressure
When arteries to the arms or legs are affected.
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Aching muscles
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Fatigue
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Cramping pains in the calves (intermittent claudication)
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Pain in the hips and thighs (may be present depending on which arteries are blocked)
RISK FACTORS
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Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood
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High blood pressure.
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Smoking
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Diabetes
LIFE STYLE CHANGES
If you have a family history of congenital, premature cardiovascular disease, then you are at risk, and this element of the risk factor cannot be controlled. There are risks that can be controlled
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High blood cholesterol (especially LDL or "bad" cholesterol over 100 mg/dL)
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Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke
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High blood pressure
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Diabetes mellitus
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Obesity
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Physical inactivity
CHOLESTEROL AND DIET
People get cholesterol by the body producing all it needs, and by consumption in all animal products. Most of it is produced in the liver. Foods containing very high levels of cholesterol are the livers of other animals, egg yolks, meat, poultry, fish, seafood and whole milk dairy products. There is no cholesterol in any plant food, such as vegetables, fruits, grains and seeds.
Some of the excess dietary cholesterol is removed from the body through the liver. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your average daily cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams. If you have heart disease, limit your daily intake to less than 200 milligrams. As the body is capable of manufacturing all the cholesterol it needs, it is not necessary to consume any at all. The quantity of animal food such as meat, poultry should be restricted to 150 grams a day, if they have high levels of cholesterol. To reduce the levels in dairy products switch to low fat milks and cheeses. In crease your protein by using chickpeas and high quality grain products.
TREATMENT
Prevention of Atherosclerosis is a life-long process. Each individual will need to review and improve his/her own risk factor profile.
Drug treatment can play an important role in arresting the progression of the disease and lipid-lowering agents may be used to reduce fat levels in the plaques.A WORD OF CAUTION:
Please do not use this information to diagnose individual cases. Every case is unique and needs professional help to both diagnose and treatment
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
A chronic disease in which thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls result in impaired blood circulation. It develops with aging, and in hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other conditions.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
A form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the deposition of atheromatous plaques containing cholesterol and lipids on the innermost layer of the walls of large and medium-sized arteries.
ATHEROMATOUS
A deposit or degenerative accumulation of lipid-containing plaques on the innermost layer of the wall of an artery.
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is necessary for other functions
ENDOTHELIUM
Endothelium is the interface between the blood and the artery
TRIGLYCERIDES
Triglycerides are lipids normally found in increased levels in the blood following the digestion of fats in the intestine. Consumed calories that are not immediately used are stored in fat cells in the form of triglycerides and are later released from fatty tissues when the body needs energy between meals.
