Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to heart and other parts of your body.
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to organs and other parts of your body.
Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.
References:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/causes
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/atrisk
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/signs
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/diagnosis
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/treatment
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/prevention
Atherosclerosis usually doesn’t cause signs and symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. Many people don’t know they have the disease until they have a medical emergency, such as heart attack or stroke.
Some people may have signs and symptoms of the disease. Signs and symptoms will depend on which arteries are affected.
Coronary Arteries
The coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to heart. If plaque narrows or blocks these arteries (a disease called coronary heart disease, or CHD), it may lead to angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood.
Angina may feel like pressure or squeezing in chest. Pain may also be felt in shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion. The pain tends to get worse with activity and go away with rest. Emotional stress also can trigger the pain.
Other symptoms of CHD are shortness of breath and arrhythmias Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
Plaque also can form in the heart’s smallest arteries. This disease is called coronary microvascular disease (MVD). Symptoms of coronary MVD include angina, shortness of breath, sleep problems, fatigue (tiredness), and lack of energy.
Carotid Arteries
The carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to brain. If plaque narrows or blocks these arteries (a disease called carotid artery disease), one may have symptoms of stroke. These symptoms may include:
Peripheral Arteries
Plaque also can build up in the major arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the legs, arms, and pelvis (a disease called peripheral artery disease).
If these major arteries are narrowed or blocked, you may have numbness, pain, and sometimes dangerous infections.
Renal Arteries
The renal arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to kidneys. If plaque builds up in these arteries, one may develop chronic kidney disease. Over time, chronic kidney disease causes a slow loss of kidney function.
Early kidney disease often has no signs or symptoms. As the disease gets worse, it can cause tiredness, changes in how you urinate (more often or less often), loss of appetite, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), swelling in the hands or feet, itchiness or numbness and trouble concentrating.
The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn’t known. However, studies show that atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that may start in childhood. It develops faster as you age.
Atherosclerosis may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. These factors include:
Risk Factors
The exact cause of atherosclerosis is not clear but certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise risk for the disease. These conditions are known as risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the more likely it is that you’ll develop atherosclerosis.
Major Risk Factors
Taking action to control risk factors can help prevent or delay atherosclerosis and related diseases. Risk for atherosclerosis increases with the number of risk factors you have.
Doctor may recommend medical advice along with heart-healthy lifestyle changes if you have atherosclerosis. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes include heart-healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, physical activity and quitting smoking.
Heart-Healthy Eating
Doctor may recommend heart-healthy eating, which includes:
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and can lower risk for coronary heart disease. Knowing body mass index (BMI) helps in finding out a healthy weight in relation to height and give an estimate of total body fat.
A BMI:
A general goal is to aim for a BMI of less than 25. Doctor or health care provider can help set an appropriate BMI goal.
Managing Stress
Learning how to manage stress, relax, and cope with problems can improve emotional and physical health. Consider healthy stress-reducing activities, such as:
Physical Activity
Regular physical activity can lower many atherosclerosis risk factors, including LDL or “bad” cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess weight. Physical activity also can lower risk for diabetes and raise HDL or “good” cholesterol, which helps prevent atherosclerosis.
Quitting Smoking
If you smoke or use tobacco, quit. Smoking can damage and tighten blood vessels and raise risk for atherosclerosis. Take advice of doctor about programs and products that help in quitting. Also, try to avoid passive smoking. If you have trouble quitting smoking on your own, consider joining a support group. Many hospitals, workplaces, and community groups offer classes to help people quit smoking.