Atherosclerosis is the build up of cholesterol and fat (fatty deposits or plaques) in the artery walls. The arteries become narrow and hardened, their elasticity disappears and it becomes difficult for blood to flow through.
These fatty plaques can rupture, causing blood to clot around the rupture. If blood cant then flow to a part of the body, the tissue dies.
The following are all symptoms of cardiovascular disease. They depend on the degree of narrowing, the likelihood that the plaque is going to rupture (vulnerability), and the organ supplied by the affected arteries.
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If the arteries that supply the lower limbs narrow, this can cause leg pain when walking or running (intermittent claudication). If a clot suddenly blocks the major peripheral vessel to the lower limb, it may starve the leg of blood to such an extent that it requires amputation.
In the brain, a blood clot (thrombus) may block an artery or a smaller blood vessel may rupture, causing local haemorrhage (bleeding). Either will result in a stroke.
In the heart, narrowed coronary arteries cause angina and ruptured plaques cause blood clots that can lead to a heart attack. This may lead to reduced heart function if a significant amount of heart muscle is damaged.
If the carotid arteries in the neck become narrow, clots may form and float to the brain. This can result in a stroke or repeated mini-strokes (transient ischaemic attacks or TIAs).
Its common for those most affected by atherosclerosis to have the disease in several arteries, including:
the aorta, the main artery in the chest and abdomen
renal (kidney) arteries
mesenteric (intestinal) vessels.
High cholesterol is only one of many risk factors that lead to hardening of the arteries. Other major risk factors are listed below.
Smoking: recent research shows that middle-aged women and men who smoke have a much higher risk of suffering a heart attack. The risk drops in the years following giving up smoking.
Diet: food is another important factor. A Mediterranean diet made up of bread, fruits, vegetables and small amounts of lean meat, fish, and olive oil is recommended.
Therapy of higher cholesterol. What is Cholesterol? What Leads to Large Cholesterol?
Alcohol: moderate consumption reduces the negative effect of the LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol. Too much raises blood pressure and damages the liver, having an adverse overall effect.
Exercise: even on a small scale this can reduce the chance of coronary artery disease. Hard physical exercise increases the bloods ability to break up blood clots.
Body weight: it is important to avoid obesity, especially when fat is around the stomach.
