Hardened Arteries (Atherosclerosis)
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is also known as hardening
of the arteries. It occurs when plaques build up in the lining of the arteries
(see diagram below). These plaques are made up of a number of substances, such
as cholesterol and cellular waste products. They build up gradually over the
years. However the rate at which they develop depends on a number of factors,
such as a person’s genes, your cholesterol level, and whether or not you smoke.
Atherosclerosis usually affects the large
arteries and the coronary arteries. The gradual build-up of atherosclerotic
plaques over a long period of time can result in the arteries becoming
narrowed, leading to poor circulation.
What does atherosclerosis do?
Atherosclerosis can occur in different
parts of the body – its effects on your body will depend on the area of the
body in which you have the problem. If the arteries that provide blood to your
heart are affected (the coronary arteries), you may develop coronary artery
disease. If the arteries supplying blood to the brain are affected, you may
develop cerebrovascular disease (also known as stroke). If it’s arteries in
your legs that are affected – or any other arteries in your body, then this is
called peripheral vascular disease.
What happens in coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease is also known as
coronary heart diseae – or just heart disease. It occurs when the coronary
arteries are narrowed so much by atherosclerosis, that there isn’t enough blood
and nutrients to supply the heart muscle.
- If your coronary arteries are affected by
atherosclerosis, you may experience angina – a heavy, tight pain in the chest that occurs upon exertion or exercise.
- Angina is a warning sign that something is
wrong and you need to see your doctor, as if one of the coronary arteries gets
completely blocked, it will cause a heart attack.
- In addition, if the atherosclerosis is left
untreated, heart failure can also develop. This is where the heart can no longer work adequately.
What happens in cerebrovascular disease
(stroke)?
If arteries in the brain are affected by
atherosclerosis, clots can form, leading to the artery being blocked or
ruptured (this is called cerebral haemorrhaging and leads to bleeding into the
brain). Either of these cases will cause a stroke.
A stroke can cause a sudden onset of
symptoms, which may include paralysis, speech difficulties, confusion and
visual disturbances.
What happens in peripheral vascular
disease?
Peripheral vascular disease is also
sometimes called peripheral arterial disease, as it mainly just affects the
arteries. In peripheral arterial disease, arteries that supply blood to the
arms, legs or internal organs become blocked as a result of atherosclerosis.
Peripheral vascular disease most commonly affects
the legs – the main symptom is cramping pains in the muscles of the legs on any
exertion (this is called intermittent claudication).
If the blockage in the arteries becomes
more severe, pain can occur even at rest. If the condition progresses without
treatment, it can eventually lead to gangrene, necessitating amputation.
Unfortunately, having atherosclerosis in
one area of the body (e.g., in the legs) is a sign that it may also be present elsewhere
(e.g., the brain or heart). For this reason, people with peripheral vascular
disease are at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
What are the main risk factors for
atherosclerosis?
One of the problems with atherosclerosis
is that, in many cases, there are no symptoms until it is fairly advanced. For
this reason you should be aware of the risk factors, particularly if this
condition runs in your family.
- Family history. Unfortunately some people
inherit genes which make them predisposed to collecting fat in their arteries
or to having high cholesterol levels. However there are a number of things a
person can do to lessen the chance of developing atherosclerosis.
- Smoking. If you smoke, try to give up.
Smoking speeds up the growth of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries (which
bring blood to the heart muscle), the aorta (which carries oxygenated blood
from the heart to smaller arteries throughout the body) and the arteries in the
legs.
- Diabetes and hypertension. Having diabetes
or high blood pressure (hypertension) can increase the chances of a person
developing atherosclerosis, so ensure that you follow your doctor’s orders with
regard to these conditions.
- High cholesterol. Having a high level of
cholesterol in the blood promotes the development of atherosclerosis. To avoid
this, try eating a healthy diet. While some fat is essential, try to limit the
intake and avoid saturated fats, such as those found in red meat.
- Obesity. Maintaining a healthy diet is
also extremely important because people who are overweight or obese have a
greater chance of developing atherosclerosis.
What should I do if I have symptoms?
If you think you have symptoms associated
with atherosclerosis, or you think you may be at risk, visit your family doctor
(GP). Your doctor will be able to decide if you need further assessment. Early
treatment can prevent diseases of the arteries from progressing.
The treatment you receive will depend on
which form of the disease you have, but may include a combination of lifestyle
changes and/or medication. Read the following articles for further information:
