Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 67 views

    Health Encyclopedia - Diseases and Conditions

    Uploaded by

    Thunder Bolt
    Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall in which the layer thickens, causing narrowing of the channel and impairing blood flow. It can occur in any area of the body, but is most important when it happens in the heart, brain or blood vessels leading to the brain. The narrowing is due to the formation of plaques (raised patches) in the inner lining of the arteries.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Health Encyclopedia - Diseases and Conditions

    Uploaded by

    Thunder Bolt
    67 views4 pages
    Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall in which the layer thickens, causing narrowing of the channel and impairing blood flow. It can occur in any area of the body, but is most important when it happens in the heart, brain or blood vessels leading to the brain. The narrowing is due to the formation of plaques (raised patches) in the inner lining of the arteries.

    Original Title

    Atherosclerosis

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall in which the layer thickens, causing narrowing of the channel and impairing blood flow. It can occur in any area of the body, but is most important when it happens in the heart, brain or blood vessels leading to the brain. The narrowing is due to the formation of plaques (raised patches) in the inner lining of the arteries.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    67 views4 pages

    Health Encyclopedia - Diseases and Conditions

    Uploaded by

    Thunder Bolt
    Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arterial wall in which the layer thickens, causing narrowing of the channel and impairing blood flow. It can occur in any area of the body, but is most important when it happens in the heart, brain or blood vessels leading to the brain. The narrowing is due to the formation of plaques (raised patches) in the inner lining of the arteries.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 4

    Atherosclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

    Page 1 of 4

    Search

    How do I find it?

    Home

    News

    Travel

    Money

    Sports

    Life

    Tech

    Weather

    Health

    Cars Event tic


    Inside News

    Search

    Channels

    Site
    search by keyword

    Web

    Home

    Today

    | Women| Men| Kids| Seniors| Diseases| Addictions| Sex

    Diet, Fitness, Looks| Alternative Medicine| Drug Checker

    Get our free newsletter

    Health Encyclopedia Diseases and Conditions


    Learn about heart disease symptoms. Get more information on heart disease treatment for your health! What can you do to prevent heart disease? Prevention details here.

    Special Offers Symptom Checker: Start Here

    Health Tools Heart Healthy Diet Ideal Body Weight Calculator Diet Reviews Fitness and Family Quiz: Test Your Fitness IQ Exercise and Fitness Guide Eat Out Smart Healthy Cooking BMI Calculator Featured Conditions Diet & Exercise Stop Smoking Food & Fitness High Blood Pressure Cholesterol Heart Resources Healthscout News 3D Health Animations Health Videos
    z z z

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPRSTUVWY

    Atherosclerosis
    Definition of Atherosclerosis Description of Atherosclerosis Causes and Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis Symptoms of Atherosclerosis Treatment of Atherosclerosis Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Atherosclerosis

    z z z

    Related Encyclopedia Acne Aneurysms Angina Pectoris Angiogram


    More..

    Definition of Atherosclerosis This is a disease of the arterial wall in which the layer thickens, causing narrowing of the channel and thus, impairing blood flow.
    It can occur in any area of the body, but is most important when it happens in the heart, brain or blood vessels leading to the brain.

    Related Healthscout Videos


    Hungry Heart Stem Cell Solutions Out of Sync The On-X Valve PROACT Trial More..

    Description of Atherosclerosis

    Related

    http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/38/main.html

    9/13/2009

    Atherosclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

    Page 2 of 4

    Quizzes & Tools Health Encyclopedia Library & Communities News Archive Drug Library Find a Therapist Enter City or Zip Code: Go
    Powered by Psychology Today

    The narrowing is due to the formation of plaques (raised patches) in the inner lining of the arteries. These plaques consist of low-density lipoproteins, decaying muscle cells, fibrous tissue, clumps of blood platelets, cholesterol, and sometimes calcium. They tend to form in regions of turbulent blood flow and are found most often in people with high concentrations of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
    The number and thickness of plaques increases with age, causing loss of the smooth lining of the blood vessels and encouraging the formation of thrombi (blood clots). Sometimes fragments of thrombi break off and form emboli, which travel through the bloodstream and block smaller vessels. Atherosclerosis is responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than any other condition. Atherosclerotic heart disease, involving the coronary arteries (coronary heart disease), is the most common cause of death, accounting for one-third of all deaths. Atherosclerotic interference with blood supply to the brain (stroke) is the third most common cause of death after cancer. Atherosclerosis also causes a great deal of serious illness by reducing the flow of blood in other major arteries, such as to the kidneys, legs, and intestines.
    Text Continues Below

    Animations Angioplasty Surgery Attack?


    Coronary Bypass What is a Heart

    What is Cholesterol?
    More..

    Related Drug Information Accupril Altace Avapro Cartia XT


    More..

    Related News Articles


    High Blood Pressure Linked to Memory Problems in Middle Age Low-Carb Diet May Harm Heart Washing Away Varicose Veins Inexpensive Hypertension Drug Could Treat MS More..

    http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/38/main.html

    9/13/2009

    Atherosclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

    Page 3 of 4

    Causes and Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis Why does atherosclerosis occur in the coronary arteries of some people but not others? An interplay of many factors including hypertension (high blood pressure), smoking, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease, and a sedentary lifestyle are involved. Symptoms of Atherosclerosis Unfortunately, atherosclerosis produces no symptoms until the damage to the arteries is severe enough to restrict blood flow.
    Restriction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to atherosclerosis can cause angina pectoris or a myocardial infarction (a heart attack). Restriction of blood flow to the muscles of the legs causes intermittent claudication (pains in the legs brought about by walking and relieved by rest). Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the brain may cause transient ischemic attacks (symptoms and signs of a stroke lasting less than 24 hours) and episodes of dizziness, or ultimately, to a stroke itself.

    Treatment of Atherosclerosis Medication is unsatisfactory for treating atherosclerosis, since the damage has already been done.
    Anticoagulant drugs have been used to try to minimize secondary clotting and embolus formation. Vasodilator drugs are helpful in providing symptom relief, but are of no curative value. Surgical treatment is available for those unresponsive to medical treatment or in certain high-risk situations. Balloon angioplasty can open up narrowed vessels and promote an improved blood supply. The blood supply to the heart can also be restored by coronary artery bypass surgery. Large atheromatous and calcified arterial obstruction can be removed by endartectomy, and entire segments of diseased peripheral vessels can be replaced by woven plastic tube grafts.

    Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Atherosclerosis Are there any tests that need to be done to diagnose

    http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/38/main.html

    9/13/2009

    Atherosclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

    Page 4 of 4

    atherosclerosis and the severity of the condition?


    Are there any risks to the tests? How serious is the condition? Has any other damage been done to any other organs? Should a specialist be consulted? What type of treatment will you be recommending? Will surgery or angioplasty be recommended? How are they performed? Are there any risks to these procedures? Will you be prescribing any medication? What are the side effects? How successful is the medication in treating this condition? Are there any signs or symptoms that the doctor should be notified of immediately? Should a nutritionist be involved in the treatment? What type of diet would help the condition? What kind of exercise program will help?

    About The HealthScout Network Contact Us Copyright 2001-2009. The HealthCentralNetwork, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy: Updated as of April 1, 2009 Terms of Service Advertising Policy

    http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/38/main.html

    9/13/2009

    You might also like

    pFad - Phonifier reborn

    Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

    Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


    Alternative Proxies:

    Alternative Proxy

    pFad Proxy

    pFad v3 Proxy

    pFad v4 Proxy