Arteriosclerosis refers to the thickening and hardening of the arteries that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. This condition can sometimes restrict blood flow to organs and tissues. Healthy arteries are elastic and flexible; however, over time, the walls of the arteries can become stiff and less flexible.
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances (plaque) inside and on the artery walls, which can restrict blood flow.
Plaque can sometimes rupture, leading to the formation of a blood clot in that area. Although atherosclerosis is most commonly associated with heart-related problems, it can affect arteries throughout the entire body. Atherosclerosis is a condition that can be both prevented and treated.
What causes atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a slow-developing, progressive disease that can begin in early childhood. Although its exact cause is not fully known, it may start with damage or injury to the inner lining of the arteries. This damage can be caused by the following factors:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- High triglyceride levels
- Smoking and the use of other tobacco products
- Insulin resistance, diabetes, or being overweight
- Inflammation caused by infections, arthritis, lupus, or other unknown inflammatory conditions
When the inner wall of an artery is damaged, blood cells and other substances quickly move to the site of injury and accumulate on the inner surface of the artery.
Over time, fatty deposits (plaques) made up of cholesterol and other substances also gather at the site of damage, harden, and cause the arteries to narrow. As a result, tissues and organs supplied by these arteries do not receive enough blood and cannot function properly.
Sometimes, fragments of the plaque may break off and enter the bloodstream.
In addition, the thin surface layer of the plaque can rupture, releasing cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. This process may lead to the formation of a blood clot, which can block a blood vessel in a specific area of the body. For example, blockage of a coronary artery can result in a heart attack. Such a clot can also break off and travel to another part of the body, blocking an artery in a different organ.
What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis develops in stages. In mild cases, it usually does not cause any symptoms.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis typically do not appear until the arteries become significantly narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to organs and tissues.
In some cases, a blood clot may break off and completely block a blood vessel, leading to a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke.
The symptoms of atherosclerosis can vary depending on which arteries are affected.
For example:
- When atherosclerosis affects the heart arteries, it may cause chest pain or a feeling of pressure in the chest.
- When it affects the arteries in the brain, symptoms may include sudden numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, temporary loss of vision in one eye, or facial muscle weakness. These are signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which, if left untreated, may progress to a stroke.
- When atherosclerosis affects the arteries in the arms and legs, it can cause symptoms of peripheral artery disease, such as leg pain during walking.
- When it affects the arteries supplying the kidneys, it may lead to high blood pressure and, in some cases, kidney failure.
Risk factors:
Hardening of the arteries develops over time. Along with aging, the following factors increase the risk of atherosclerosis:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Being overweight
- Smoking and the use of other tobacco products
- A family history of heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
What are the complications of atherosclerosis?
Complications may vary depending on which artery is affected. For example:
- Coronary artery disease:Narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart leads to coronary artery disease, which can cause chest pain (angina), heart attack, and heart failure.
- Carotid artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries that supply the brain leads to carotid artery disease, which can result in stroke or ischemia.
- Peripheral artery disease: When atherosclerosis develops in the arteries of the arms and legs, it leads to peripheral artery disease, causing reduced blood circulation. This may result in decreased sensation in the limbs and reduced sensitivity to hot and cold. In rare cases, poor blood flow can lead to tissue death (gangrene) in the arms or legs.
- Aneurysm: Atherosclerosis can also lead to an aneurysm, which may occur in any part of the body. An aneurysm is a bulging of the arterial wall. Many people with aneurysms have no symptoms. However, pain or a pulsating sensation may occur in the affected area, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
If an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Although this is usually a sudden, life-threatening condition, it can also occur as a leak. A blood clot (thrombus) can break away from the aneurysm and block an artery in a distant part of the body.
Chronic kidney disease. Atherosclerosis narrows the arteries to the kidneys, reducing the amount of oxygen-rich blood that reaches them. Over time, it can affect kidney function, slowing the removal of harmful substances from the body.
How can atherosclerosis be prevented?
The same healthy lifestyle measures that are used in the treatment of atherosclerosis are also essential for its prevention. These include:
- Quitting smoking
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Keeping body weight and body mass index (BMI) within a normal range
To prevent the disease before it develops, it is also important to regularly check cholesterol levels by performing a lipid profile test. This helps monitor the amount of cholesterol in the blood and keep it within a healthy range. Elevated LDL cholesterol, in particular, can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and lead to blockage of the arteries.