Arteriosclerosis is a major cause of cad

Overview

What is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a disease that happens when plaque builds up on the inside walls of your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that deliver blood and oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body.

Plaque is a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances. As plaque builds up, your arteries become hard and narrow.

What’s the difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis, which is any hardening of the arteries. Your arteries can become hard or stiff for many different reasons. One reason is plaque buildup. That’s what atherosclerosis refers to.

But the two terms are often used to mean the same thing.

How can hardening of the arteries affect my body?

Hardening of your arteries can cause several problems. Narrow or blocked arteries can’t deliver enough blood, oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body. Blockages can eventually lead to tissue death or infection in your arms, legs or other parts of your body.

A piece of plaque can break free and then get stuck somewhere in your body, causing damage. Also, a blood clot can form in a narrow artery. It can eventually loosen and travel through the artery.

Atherosclerosis may begin when you’re a child, and worsens over time.

Atherosclerosis can lead to serious health problems and medical emergencies, including:

• Blood clots.
• Carotid artery disease.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Heart attack.
• Peripheral artery disease.
• Stroke.

What are the stages of atherosclerosis?

There are several stages of atherosclerosis (described below). Each stage involves changes in your artery wall. These changes are so tiny that you can’t see most of them without a microscope. But they add up to cause serious damage to your artery.

The stages of atherosclerosis happen over many years. And they often go undetected.

Atherosclerosis involves gradual plaque buildup inside your artery. Eventually, the plaque can rupture and trigger a blood clot.

Stage 1: Endothelial damage and immune response

Atherosclerosis begins when damage occurs to the inner layer of your artery wall. This layer is called the intima. The surface of your intima is lined with endothelial cells. This thin lining, called the endothelium, is the barrier between your blood and your artery wall.

Many things can harm your endothelium. The most common culprits include:

• High levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol circulating in your blood.
• Toxins, like those from cigarette smoke.
• High blood pressure that persists for a long time.

Once your endothelium is damaged, several things happen:

1. Cholesterol from your blood starts gathering at the site of injury.
2. These cholesterols become oxidized (a chemical process) and trigger an immune response.
3. This immune response causes many white blood cells to travel to the area. These white blood cells are called monocytes. They gather and lead to inflammation within your artery.

Stage 2: Fatty streak

A “fatty streak” is the first visible sign of atherosclerosis. It’s a yellow streak or patch formed from dead cells at the site of endothelial damage.

Here’s how it forms:

1. The monocytes that moved to your artery turn into cells called macrophages. Macrophages surround and consume invaders to get rid of them. In this case, your macrophages consume the cholesterol.
2. As your macrophages fill up with cholesterol, they take on a foamy appearance. So, they’re then called “foam cells.”
3. After the foam cells consume cholesterol, they die.
4. As the foam cells die, your body sends more and more white blood cells to the area. Those cells continue consuming cholesterol, get foamy and die. As this process continues, it damages your endothelium more.

All the dead foam cells form a bulge underneath your endothelium. This “fatty streak” is the beginning of plaque formation.

Stage 3: Plaque growth

More dead foam cells and other debris continue building up at the site of the fatty streak. The fatty streak slowly gets bigger and forms into a larger piece of plaque.

Your artery’s smooth muscle cells form a layer on top of this plaque. This is called a fibrous cap. The fibrous cap covers the plaque. It prevents bits of plaque from breaking off into your bloodstream. Meanwhile, the plaque keeps growing. It gains calcium, which makes it harder.

For a while, your blood still has enough room to pass through. That’s because your artery wall expands outward to make space for the plaque. But it can only expand outward so far. As the plaque gets too big, the opening of your artery becomes narrower and narrower. There’s less room for your blood to flow through.

The plaque may stay stable for a long time. But eventually, it can rupture.

Stage 4: Plaque rupture

In this final stage, the plaque ruptures and causes major problems in your body. At this point, the plaque has been in your artery for a long time — perhaps many years. It has grown in size and taken up more space in your artery. But the fibrous cap has kept the plaque from breaking open until this point.

When the fibrous cap breaks open, the plaque inside comes into contact with your blood. This can trigger a blood clot to form. This blood clot (known as a “thrombus”) blocks your blood flow and leads to a heart attack or stroke.

Researchers are still learning how these ruptures happen and who’s at risk. A thin fibrous cap may be more likely to rupture than a thicker one. The size of the plaque itself may not matter as much. In some cases, smaller plaque bulges lead to a heart attack.

What causes atherosclerosis?

Damage to your artery’s inner lining (endothelium) causes atherosclerosis to begin. The damage usually occurs slowly and over time.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis

Some conditions can raise your risk of developing atherosclerosis. These include:

• Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
• Immune response and inflammation. Smoking is a major cause.

What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis often doesn’t cause any symptoms until an artery is very narrow or entirely blocked. Many people don’t even know they have the condition until a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke.

You may start noticing symptoms if your artery is more than 70% blocked. The blockage causes your blood flow to slow down. As a result, your body isn’t getting enough oxygen.

Some early warning signs include:

• Chest pain (angina) while exercising. This pain stops when you rest.
• Leg cramps when walking (intermittent claudication).
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA). This is a “mini stroke” that has the same symptoms as a stroke. But it goes away within a day and doesn’t damage your brain. If you have a TIA, you’re at risk of having a stroke within days or weeks.

If you have a blood clot or sudden blockage, you may have a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain. It may be mild discomfort or severe, crushing pain.
• Pain in one or both arms or shoulders.
• Discomfort in your neck or jaw.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Heart palpitations.
• Anxiety or a feeling of “impending doom.”
• Sweating.
• Dizziness or fainting.

Women and people designated female at birth (DFAB) may also experience shortness of breath, fatigue and insomnia. These symptoms might begin days, weeks or even months before the heart attack.

The blood clot or blockage can also lead to a stroke. Symptoms of a stroke include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs, especially on one side of your body.
• Sudden trouble speaking or understanding others.
• Slurred or confused speech.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Severe dizziness or loss of balance.
• Trouble walking.
• Sudden and severe headache.

Atherosclerosis usually doesn’t cause symptoms until your artery is severely blocked. But some people experience early warning signs days or weeks before a medical emergency.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?

To determine whether you have atherosclerosis, your healthcare provider will start with:

• Family medical history.
• Personal medical history.
• Physical exam, listening with a stethoscope for weak or absent pulse or an abnormal sound in your arteries called bruit.
• Blood tests, which can measure the amount of fat, cholesterol, sugar and protein in your blood.

What tests diagnose atherosclerosis?

Your healthcare provider may order additional tests to diagnose atherosclerosis and plan the best treatment for you. These tests include:

• Angiography. This test uses special X-rays to locate and measure blockages. Your healthcare provider will inject a contrast dye into your arteries to help the blockages show up on the X-rays. Your healthcare provider will insert a catheter (thin tube) into one of your arteries, usually in your groin or arm.
• Ankle/brachial index. This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the pressure in your arm to measure blood flow in your limbs.
• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray takes pictures inside of your chest.
• CT scan. This scan takes pictures inside of your body and can show any hardening and narrowing of your large arteries.
• Echocardiogram (echo). An echo takes pictures of your heart’s valves and chambers and measures how well your heart is pumping.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG measures your heart’s electrical activity, rate and rhythm.
• Exercise stress test. This test measures your heart function while you’re physically active.
• Carotid ultrasound. This test takes ultrasound pictures of the arteries in your neck (carotid arteries). It can detect hardening or narrowing of these arteries as blood flows to your brain.
• Abdominal ultrasound. This ultrasound takes pictures of your abdominal aorta. It checks for ballooning (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or plaque buildup in your aorta.

What specialists might I need to see for atherosclerosis?

If you have atherosclerosis, your healthcare provider may recommend you see a specialist, such as:

• Cardiologist, who specializes in the heart.
• Nephrologist, who specializes in the kidneys.
• Neurologist, who specializes in the nervous system (brain and spine).
• Vascular specialist, who specializes in blood vessels.

Management and Treatment

How is atherosclerosis treated?

Treatment for atherosclerosis may involve lifestyle changes, medications and surgical procedures. Your healthcare provider will work with you to choose the best options. Common treatment goals include:

• Lowering your risk of blood clots.
• Helping you make healthier food choices.
• Preventing complications like heart attack or stroke.
• Easing symptoms that are bothering you.
• Slowing or stopping plaque buildup in your arteries.
• Helping your blood flow better by widening your arteries or bypassing blockages.

Your healthcare provider also may prescribe medications to:

• Control your blood pressure.
• Lower your cholesterol.
• Manage your blood glucose levels.
• Prevent blood clots.

Some people with advanced atherosclerosis might require surgical procedures, such as:

• Coronary angioplasty.
• Coronary artery bypass surgery.
• Carotid endarterectomy.

Can atherosclerosis be reversed?

Atherosclerosis can’t be reversed. But your healthcare provider will help you manage your atherosclerosis so it doesn’t get worse or lead to complications.

Research continues to explore new treatments that may be able to reverse atherosclerosis.

Prevention

What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis?

Anyone can have atherosclerosis. But some people have a higher chance of developing it.

Some risk factors you can’t change. These non-modifiable risk factors include:

• Family history of premature cardiovascular disease.
• Older age (age 45 for men and people designated male at birth [DMAB]; age 55 for women and people designated female at birth [DFAB]).

Some medical conditions raise your risk for atherosclerosis, including:

• Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes makes a person 2 to 6 times more likely to develop atherosclerosis. This condition puts younger women (pre-menopausal) at risk.
• High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure that persists for a long time can damage your artery wall. If your blood pressure is higher than 110/75 mm Hg, you face a greater risk. And that risk goes up the more your blood pressure goes up.
• High cholesterol. High levels of LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” can be especially dangerous.
• Obesity. Obesity raises your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It also causes inflammation throughout your body.

Lifestyle factors also play a role. These factors include:

• Smoking.
• Lack of physical activity.
• A diet high in saturated fat, and trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt) and sugar.

How can I prevent or lessen atherosclerosis?

You may not be able to prevent atherosclerosis. But you can reduce your risk and lessen the effects of the disease. Some steps you can take include:

• Eat a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt) and sugar.
• Exercise regularly. Start with short walks and build up to 30 minutes a day most days of the week.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Manage any health conditions, especially diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Quit smoking.
• Have an annual checkup with your primary care provider.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for people with atherosclerosis?

Medical advancements have helped improve the outlook for people with atherosclerosis. With early diagnosis and treatment, people with atherosclerosis can live healthy, active lives. But the disease can cause health emergencies and even death. That’s why it’s important to know your risk factors and work with your healthcare provider to reduce your risks.

Living With

When should I seek immediate medical attention?

If you have any signs of a heart attack or stroke, seek immediate medical attention.

How can I best learn to cope with atherosclerosis?

Learning that you have atherosclerosis can cause fear and stress. It might help to:

• Attend support groups for people with the same condition.
• Share your feelings with your healthcare provider or a counselor.
• Talk to family and friends about the lifestyle changes you need to make so they can help you. It’s much easier to reach health goals when you have social support. Surround yourself with people who’re a positive influence and who encourage you to stay on track.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Atherosclerosis is a disease that happens when plaque builds up on the inside walls of your arteries. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other conditions can increase your risk. It’s important to get a checkup every year to catch and manage any related conditions. Healthy lifestyle choices, medications and surgical procedures can prevent complications of atherosclerosis.

If you have atherosclerosis, remember you’re not alone. This is one of the most common heart problems people face. And your healthcare provider is ready to help you manage your condition so you can live a long and healthy life.

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