Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words “athero”, meaning porridge, and “sclerosis”, meaning hardness. It is a condition in which fatty deposits accumulate in and under the lining of the artery walls. Initially, the deposits are only streaks of fat-containing cells, which may produce other substances resulting in further cells’ buildup. The buildup of the cells is called atheromas, or plaque, and is the principal characteristics of atherosclerosis.

As the plaque is accumulated, it invades the innermost layer of the artery, the endothelium. The endothelium becomes thicker, and the artery’s diameter shrinks, and the blood flow decreases. The result of the reduced blood flow in the body prevents the performance of a number of crucial functions. It can limit the lungs from picking up oxygen, and delivering it to the arteries, and to tissues throughout the body. At the same time, it can hinder the veins from returning carbon dioxide to our lungs. The consequences of atherosclerosis can manifest itself as:

1. Damage to the endothelium stimulates blood clots to form, which can totally block oxygenated blood flow. Coronary cells cannot function without oxygen; quickly forming lactid acid and becoming fatigued. The lactid produces a sensation of pressure or strangling in the chest, the earliest signs of coronary atherosclerosis.
2. Intracranial means “inside the skull”; therefore, intracranial atherosclerosis is a narrowing and hardening of the arteries “inside the skull”. It is not unusual that people don’t realize they have intracranial atherosclerosis until they actually suffer a stroke.
3. Artherosclerosis in a vein increases the risk of forming a blood clot. Superficial phlebitis means inflammation of a vein near the surface of your skin. Sometimes superficial phlebitis develops deep vein thrombophlebitis. “Thrombo” means “clot.” Deep vein thrombophlebitis affects the larger blood vessels deep in the legs. On rare occasions, thrombophlebitis can affect veins in your arms or neck. Large blood clots can form, which break off and travel to the lungs blocking a pulmonary artery. This is a serious condition called pulmonary embolism.

Atherosclerosis (of the)bowel has been researched by clinical study, Shabir Bhimji, MD, Consulting Surgeon, Cardiac Surgical Associates of West Texas, to determine if atherosclerosis is a contributing factor to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two major forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Although how they originate remains unknown, mounting evidence suggests that arterial and venous atherosclerosis may be involved. Additional research is needed to verify this finding.

Your physician will examine you and ask questions about your symptoms. The variety of tests ordered by the physician in making his or her diagnosis of atherosclerosis are:

• CT scan;
• Echocardiogram;
• Arteriography;
• ECG-Electrocardiograph;
• Troponin Blood Test.

Severe chest pains, often the first symptoms of a heart attack, demand immediate attention. The quicker the treatment for the heart attack, the better the diagnosis. In order to prevent heart muscle damage,a clot busting drug injection or an emergency procedure, known as angioplasty,is required as soon as possible.
Aspirin reduces the stickiness’ of platelets, tiny particles in the blood that trigger the blood to clot. Another antiplatelet drug, clopidogrel, works in a different way to aspirin, and adds to the action of reducing the platelet stickiness’. Beta-blockers have some protective effect on the heart muscle, and they help to prevent abnormal heart rhythms from developing. Injections of heparin, or a similar drug, help to prevent blood clots. Steroids assist in opening up the arteries to increase the amount of oxygen. A statin drug will help to lower the cholesterol level in your blood.

In order to control your atherosclerosis, you may need to alter your lifestyle. Some recommended lifestyle changes are: a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet; losing weight, if necessary; exercise; controlling your blood pressure; and not smoking.

Some common resources available for those suffering from atherosclerosis are the American Heart Association, (http://www.americanheart.org); American Stroke Association, (http://www.strokeassociation.org); and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov).