Question 1

what is the impact on the body of arteriosclerosis?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends upon the location of the atherosclerosis. In the brain arteries, it causes neurologic deficits and stroke.  In the heart it causes chest pain and heart attacks.  In the kidneys it causes hypertension and renal failure.  In the legs it causes claudication (leg pain when walking).

Question 2

what does arteriosclerosis do in the body?

Accepted Answer

Many things: Atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the body. It acts in varying degrees and stages. One of the first manifestations is an attenuation or loss of the normal dilatory response of arteries. They also become progressively stiffer and as they accumulate more and more internal debris the flow becomes more turbulent. Increasing activation of the inflammatory process is noted, with resultant clots.

Question 3

what happens in the body with arteriosclerosis?

Accepted Answer

Limits to blood flow: In arteriosclerosis, cholesterol builds up in the walls of the artery compromising the inside of the artery where blood flows.  The end result can be limitations in blood flow to the brain, heart, intestines, kidney, and extremities.  The symptoms are particular to the organ affected.

Question 4

how does arteriosclerosis impact an individual's cardiovascular health?

Accepted Answer

Significantly: Coronary heart disease is a direct manifestation of atherosclerosis and can significantly impact one's health.

Question 5

what is arteriosclerosis?

Accepted Answer

CVD: It is hardening of the arteries, caused by fat, cholesterol, and other substances building up in the arteries  - this is called plaque - making the arteries stiffer.  This plaque interferes with the normal function of the arteries and can cause problems and symptoms throughout the body.  The plaque can block the arteries and/or it can break off and flow to smaller vessels and block them.

Question 6

is arteriosclerosis inherited?

Accepted Answer

Sort of: Well it's not inherited like your eye color but the tendency to develop it is inherited related to many factors. High cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and other risk factors are also inherited to a degree. So the bottom line is that if your parents have arteriosclerosis you are at greater risk. It would be even more important to modify your risk factors.

Question 7

is arteriosclerosis reversible?

Accepted Answer

Not really: Don't believe everything you hear. Atherosclerosis can be stabilized with current meds/treatments but significant regression (>10%) is extremely difficult to demonstrate in humans. Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease. There is no "cure".

Question 8

how is arteriosclerosis treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment options: Arteriosclerosis has several contributing risk factors. Not all are known but many we do. Agressive treatment of the modifiable risk factors is the key to treatment.Also weather you are treating a patient for primay prevention (no history of mi or stroke) or secondary
( pt had mi, cva, bypass surgery etc.).Regardless exercise good diet smoke cessation and good controll of BP and diabetes and wt loss.

Question 9

when does arteriosclerosis start?

Accepted Answer

Early: The process of atherosclerosis can actually begin in our late teens and early twenties; although the consequences may not manifest for many years. Autopsy examination from young people dying in wars and trauma has revealed early signs of atherosclerosis in these individuals.

Question 10

how can you cure arteriosclerosis?

Accepted Answer

Manage: There is no cure for atherosclerosis but you can manage it: quit smoking!, lose weight: BMI <28, control blood pressure, control cholesterol, exercise every day (clear program with your doctor), take prescribed medications, control blood sugar, change diet to low fat, low sugar.  Take care of yourself and you can control this disease process!

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What is the impact on the body of arteriosclerosis

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What is the impact on the body of arteriosclerosis?

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How does arteriosclerosis impact an individual's cardiovascular health?

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