Overview

What is Atherosclerosis?

Even though the terms arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are often used synonymously, the two terms connote different significations.

Arteriosclerosis is caused by the thickening and stiffening of the arteries. These are blood channels that transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. This can at times block the blood's movement to the body tissues and organs. Elastic and flexible arteries, however, show good health. But the walls of the arteries become harder with time; this disease is termed as hardening of the artery.

One specific type of arteriosclerosis is called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of lipids, cholesterol, and other substances inside and outside of the arterial walls. We call this buildup plaque. Because plaque builds up in arteries, they may become narrowed and actually block blood flow. Finally, the plaque may break loose and produce a blood clot.

Atherosclerosis is commonly linked with the condition of heart problems. It may also be found in arteries located anywhere in the body. There are treatments for atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can be prevented by a healthy way of living.

What are the symptoms of Arteriosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a pretty silent disease. You may not feel something real till the blockage is severe or a complication occurs. There are some implicit symptoms that can do depending on which arteries are affected-

• Chest pain, also called angina
• Pain in the legs
• Briefness of breath
• Weakness or fatigue
• Paralysis or weakness of an arm or leg
• Impotence in men

What Causes Arteriosclerosis?

There are many factors that contribute to the causation of atherosclerosis. They include-

• High cholesterol levels
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Family history
• Poor diet
• Sedentary life

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?

This encompasses listening to your heart and blood inflow through your arteries by stethoscope. The doctor, for example, may check your carotid arteries in your neck to listen to any whooshing sound called a "noise." This noise can point to the existence of a shrine.

• Ask about your medical history and family history: This information will help guide you to demonstrate the threat that you pose to atherosclerosis and its complications.
• Inquire about your life: Your doctor might ask you about habits like your history or present use of tobacco products. Order blood tests.
• Cardiac blood tests reveal your cholesterol situation and numerous details about your heart function.

Which of the examinations are planned for identifying atherosclerosis?

All these tests given below identify atherosclerosis:

• Angiography: This test measures blockages using particular X-rays and color discrepancies.
• Ankle-brachial index: This measures the blood flow in your arms and legs by taking a comparison of the blood pressure at your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm.
• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray takes film of inside the chest.
• CT scan or calculated tomography scan: This scan will take a picture of the inside of your body and may be able to show if there is stiffening and narrowing of your large highways.
• Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart: This test may be able to spot problems with blood going into your arteries.
• Echocardiogram, or echo: This test assesses how well your heart is pumping by creating a picture of the valves and chambers.
• Electrocardiogram, or EKG: This is the measure of electrical activity, rhythm, and effort of your heart.
• Exercise stress test: It is the evaluation of how well your heart works during physical activity.
• Abdominal ultrasound: It takes a film of your abdominal aorta. The test examines the possibility of a paragliding (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or shrine buildup in your aorta.

How is atherosclerosis treated?

Atherosclerosis can be treated by changing your diet and exercise. However, sometimes, medication is essential. There are many different drugs available to slow down arthrosclerosis.

Surgery or other procedures-

Perhaps the treatment approach for atherosclerosis also has to be more aggressive. If your symptoms are strong or when you have blockage, you may have to go through procedures and surgeries such as the following:

• A procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI for short, can also help open blocked arteries; it is also known as Angioplasty and stent placement. In this procedure, a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is aimed at the blocked blood vessel and inserted into a blood vessel, typically at the wrist or groin. The balloon at the end of the catheter is expanded to widen the artery, and a mesh tube, referred to as a stent, is often left in place to keep the artery open. Often, a mesh tube (stent) keeps the artery open.
• An endarterectomy is a surgical procedure that is made to remove plaque from a narrowed artery. If it is made with an aim to target the carotid artery in the neck, then it's called the carotid endarterectomy.
• Fibrinolytic therapy uses clot-busting drugs to break down the clots that are blocking the blood in an artery.
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)- A healthy blood vessel from another area of the body is utilized to open up a new blood vessel in the heart. The blood then flows around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. CABG is an open-chest surgery. This is usually only done in patients who have many narrowed heart arteries.

Can atherosclerosis be prevented?

You might not be the right candidate to treat atherosclerosis. However, you may lessen your risk and minimize the gads of the disease. Then, there are some things you can do:

• Eat low-fat foods containing impregnated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (swab), and sugar.
• Regularly do physical exercises.
• Start with short walks and make up to 30 twinkles a day most days of the week.
• Maintain a weight that's healthy for you.
• You must control any health problems, especially diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
• Don't use tobacco products.
• Be scanned monthly by a doctor.

What are the possible complications of my having atherosclerosis?

Early detection and treatment make it possible for people with atherosclerosis to continue conditioning activities they enjoy. However, the complaint can be associated with medical extremities and even prove fatal. Therefore, an awareness of your risk factors and collaboration with your doctor to lower them can save your life.

Living With

How do I take care of myself?

You should work closely with your doctor. They monitor your condition, and they will inform you how often you need to visit for movables.

• Attend all your movables, and be an effective mate in your care
• Inform the doctor immediately of any new symptoms or changing symptoms.
• The earliest treatment would minimize your chances of developing complications that may be life-altering.
• Share your hobbies with a counselor or support group.
• Have some support from people who are going through cardiovascular disease.
• Discuss your changes with your family and friends.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Arteriosclerosis?

Tender Palm Hospital has the most experienced team of Cardiologists, Cardiac Surgeons, and diagnostics with the latest and International standard infection control measures in Lucknow, India. The Cardiac Science Centre team has decades of experience in successfully treating Arteriosclerosis.

To seek an expert consultation for Arteriosclerosis in Lucknow, India

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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