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Hypnotism
Aura Reading
Kundalini
Holistic Healing
Pet Therapy
Pranayama
Sleep disorders
Flu
How Is Flu Treated?
Arteriosclerosis
Bioterrorism
Causes of/Risk Factors for
Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Introduction
Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis involve the buildup of deposits on the
insides of the artery walls, which causes thickening and hardening of the
arteries.
In
arteriosclerosis, the deposits are composed largely of calcium.
In atherosclerosis, the deposits consist of fatty substances, and artery walls
lose elasticity and harden.
Both
arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis affect circulation. If not taken care of
they can ultimately lead to high blood pressure and to angina (chest pain),
heart attack, stroke, and/or sudden cardiac death.
The term
"arteriosclerosis" means thickening and hardening of artery walls.
As a result of the deposit of calcium and plaque on the walls of the artery:
Arteries
thicken.
Arteries
lose their elasticity.
The walls of
the artery harden and become brittle.
These
deposits narrow the artery and interfere with the normal flow of blood through
the vessel.
This makes
the heart work harder, which, in turn, can cause a heart attack or lead to blood
clots in the artery, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Arteriosclerosis can also cause blood vessels to widen or rupture in an
aneurysm. Most affected are vital organs such as the heart and brain, and the
legs, yet all arteries are vulnerable.
How
fat and plaque deposits on arteries can lead to arteriosclerosis and Hear Attack
No
Obstruction
Cross
Section of a healthy artery. The inside of the artery is free and provides
unobstructed flow of blood.
Partial
Obstruction
Arteries are
gradually getting clogged by fatty deposits on the vessel wall. Note that the
opening for the flow of blood is now reduced. But there is still space for blood
to flow through.
Major
Obstruction
Advanced
hardening of the artery. Fatty deposits now clog most of the artery opening. But
small amount of blood (shown in red) still flow through.
Full
Obstruction
Blood clot
(shown in blue) now blocks the small opening, cutting off the flow of blood
completely. This leads to heart attack.
Plaque
buildup on artery walls occurs naturally as we age, but the process is
accelerated by smoking, alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, caffeine, lack of
exercise and stress. Heredity and some diseases such as diabetes, also increases
the risk for arteriosclerosis.
Maintaining
a healthy diet and lifestyle can help you avoid this dangerous disorder.
Symptoms
Early signs are not always
present, but circulatory disturbances are the first manifestation of
arteriosclerosis.
Symptoms include leg cramps
while walking, changes in skin temperature and color, an altered pulse,
headaches, dizziness and memory defects. The problem is that symptoms often do
not arise until the problem has progressed to a dangerous phase. In fact, more
deaths occur in the United States from arterial and degenerative heart disease
than from heart attacks.
In the brain, hindered
circulation causes:
Headaches
Dizzy spells
Ringing of ear
Memory problems
Poor concentration
Mood changes
Transischemic attacks (TIAs)
are like strokes, except that the problems disappear on their own within
minutes. The symptoms are similar to that of strike. They are:
Sudden attacks of paralysis
Fainting spells
Inability to speak
Vision impairment - inability
to see properly
These could be a precursor to
stroke. They should be taken very seriously.
Peripheral
atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis obliterans)
A type of peripheral vascular
disease in which the lower limbs are affected. In the early stages of heart
disease, the major arteries carrying blood to the legs and the feet become
narrowed by fatty deposits. Atherosclerosis of the leg or foot not only can
limit a person's mobility, but can also lead to loss of a limb. People who have
diseased arteries in the leg or foot are likely to have them elsewhere, mainly
in the heart and brain.
Symptoms of peripheral
atherosclerosis are:
Aching muscles
Fatigue
Cramping pains in the ankles
and legs
Pain in the hips and thighs -
May be present depending on which arteries are blocked.
Intermittent
claudication:
This is the arteriosclerosis in the leg. The principal symptom of this is pain
while walking. The pain is relieved during rest. The pain is caused by an
obstructed artery.
The pain is felt in the legs
(most often in the calf, but sometimes in the foot, thigh, hip or buttocks). It
is brought on by walking and is quickly relieved by rest. Intermittent
claudication is typically the first symptom of developing peripheral
atherosclerosis. Additional symptoms include:
Numbness
Weakness
Heavy feeling in the legs
Angina:
This occurs when the blood vessels leading to the heart are temporarily blocked.
The pain of angina (or chest pain) is the frightening and urgent symptom of
arteriosclerosis to many.
High blood pressure is often a
sign of hardened and narrowed arteries.
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