Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words athero, meaning paste, and sclerosis meaning hardness. This medical condition is the hardening of the arteries due to the fatty acids that have stuck or pasted along the walls. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. When these walls are penetrated by the acids, they become eroded and the elasticity of these walls is reduced leading to the disruption of blood flow. The artery’s diameter shrinks and results to the decrease of blood flow which reduces the oxygen supply. Other substances that may build up in the artery’s walls are cholesterol, cellular waste products and calcium. These are then referred to as plaques. Most of the damage in the arteries happens when they become fragile and rupture.
The condition is said to start in early childhood and progresses when the individual grows older. Many scientists believe that it starts when the innermost layer of the artery is damaged. Others also believe that there is an immune system component that leads to the development of the problem. An inflammation may have helped cause the condition. Other factors that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis are smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood cholesterol, a high-fat diet and physical inactivity. People who have a personal or family history of heart disease are also at risk for developing atherosclerosis.
Most of the symptoms observed in someone suffering from the disease may happen either at exertion or at rest. These include chest or leg pain. If there is a reduction of the blood supply in the legs, it can cause a peripheral arterial disease like experiencing leg pain when walking. This condition may eventually lead to gangrene. A heart attack may also be experienced if a plaque either ruptures to cause the formation of blood clots or if they break off and travel to another part of the body. If this blocks a blood vessel that feeds the brain, it may cause sudden numbness, weakness or dizziness. And in worst case scenarios may even cause a transient ischemic attack or a stroke.
A blowing sound over the artery with a stethoscope may indicate having atherosclerosis. A decrease in pulse of the affected area may also indicate this. The comparison between the blood pressure of the ankle and arm may also be used as an indicator. An abnormal difference between the two is considered as a sign to signify that the individual indeed suffers from atherosclerosis. An ultrasonic duplex scanning, CT scan of the affected area and MRA (Magnetic resonance arteriography) may also be done for diagnosis.
To treat a patient having atherosclerosis, a low-fat diet, exercise and weight loss is usually recommended. The control of high blood pressure is also important. Medications may will be prescribed to help you do this and also reduce fats and cholesterol in the body. Cholestyramine, colestipol, nicotinic acid, gemfibrozil, probucol, atorvastatin, lovastatin are some of the medication that may be prescribed. Anti-coagulants will also be needed to reduce the risk of clot formation. If medications still do not prove useful for the patient, certain procedures may be done to treat the condition. A balloon angioplasty is a condition that uses a balloon-tipped catheter to flatten the plaque in that have developed. A stenting procedure is usually done after this. This involves the implanting of a small metal device in the artery to keep the artery open. Another method is through a bypass graft in which a normal vein from the patient is used to create a bridge that circumvents the blocked section of the artery.
