The arteriosclerosis is a disease in which arteries harden producing a lack of elasticity and narrowing of the same. This situation leads to greater difficulty in blood circulation, at the same time that it facilitates the formation of atheromas, which implies an accumulation of cholesterol that can become calcified, forming plaques. It is a very common disease today due to a sedentary lifestyle and an incorrect diet. In this FastlyHealarticle we explain what are the causes, symptoms and treatment of arteriosclerosis .
Table of Contents
Causes of arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis tends to appear when the person has a series of risk factors that can sometimes occur together.
- Genetic factors . Those people who have a family history of cardiovascular disease have a greater predisposition to the formation of atheromas in their arteries.
- Hypertension . It is more common in adults, and one of its main consequences is arteriosclerosis. It involves an increase in blood pressure, although it does not usually have symptoms, which makes it more dangerous.
- Dyslipidemia . It is a high concentration of lipids in the blood that is usually caused by a diet rich in fat. This makes it easier for atheromas to build up in the arteries.
- Diabetes . Diabetic people are more likely to have higher levels of bad cholesterol, so they pose a risk when it comes to suffering from arteriosclerosis, especially in type 2 diabetes .
- Smoking . It is one of the main risk factors in most cardiovascular diseases, increasing blood pressure and heart rate.
Symptoms of arteriosclerosis
The symptoms that derive from arteriosclerosis occur due to the decrease in blood flow produced by the narrowing of the arteries. Therefore, depending on the degree of obstruction in the arteries, the symptoms may manifest more or less intensely. On the other hand, depending on the affected blood vessels, the pain may manifest itself more intensely in a certain area of the leather. Thus, one of the symptoms that occurs with arteriosclerosis is pain when the body is exercised, without the need for intense physical activity. When a person with arteriosclerosis walks, they often feel pain in the legs, since the body needs a greater amount of blood and requires the work of arteries affected by arteriosclerosis. On the contrary, it is common for the pain to disappear when you are at rest. This symptom by which pain appears with physical exercise and disappears when it stops, is known as intermittent claudication .
When any of the blood vessels become blocked, gangrene can occur . This situation occurs due to the interruption of the blood supply in an area of the body, such as the legs. Depending on whether the obstruction occurs progressively or suddenly, the symptoms will appear more abruptly or appear little by little. When the occlusion is progressive, the lack of optimal blood supply makes the affected area more vulnerable to trauma. If the occlusion is abrupt, the tissues die, so the affected area turns blue and sensitivity is lost.
Most commonly, the occlusion affects the arteries in the heart, causing a heart or cerebrovascular infarction.
Treatment of arteriosclerosis
The most effective treatment of arteriosclerosis is prevention by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
- Diet . A balanced diet should be carried out, trying to reduce the amount of fatty foods that are prone to increased cholesterol and the formation of atheromas in the arteries.
- Physical exercise . A good diet must be accompanied by adequate physical activity, which is very important to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is not necessary to overdo exercise, but to keep your body active by going for a walk, a bike ride, or a run.
- Hypertension . This condition causes damage to the arteries that considerably increase the risk of suffering arteriosclerosis. Therefore, it is important to monitor hypertension.
- Alcohol and tobacco . Tobacco is one of the main factors when it comes to suffering from cardiovascular diseases. If we also add alcohol, the risk can increase considerably. Therefore, ending the habit of smoking and avoiding alcohol are one of the prevention methods to consider.
There is no specific treatment for arteriosclerosis, although the drugs used are usually focused on treating specific disorders, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Treatment by surgeryit is executed in cases in which it is desired to eliminate the occlusion of the affected artery. The Fogarty catherer is an intervention that is carried out to eliminate occlusions in the arteries of the leg. In the event that the occlusion takes place in the coronary arteries, the intervention carried out is the dilation of the coronary arteries using a balloon, and the implantation of a stent so that the blood circulates normally. Surgical interventions are carried out in those people whose symptoms are intense or the probability of having a heart attack is high.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Arteriosclerosis: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart and circulation .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.