By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach Atherosclerosis By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach

Overview Buildup of plaque in arteries Causes hardening of the arteries Restricts blood flow Atherosclerosis in the heart is called Coronary Artery Disease Sudden plaque rupture or clotting can cause the heart muscle to die.

Causes of Atherosclerosis Sometime beginning in early childhood, atherosclerosis is a slow working and complex disease. As you get older, atherosclerosis begins to develope faster. The exact cause of Atherosclerosis is still undetermined. Some experts say that it can start with damage to the endothelium, which leads to the forming of plaque The endothelium is the lining inside of cells, which is responsible for keeping the arteries smooth. This eases the blood flow of blood through arteries. Atherosclerosis can develop when several different factors cause damage in the innermost layers of the arteries. These include: Smoking High blood pressure High amounts of cholesterol in blood High amounts of sugar in the blood (can be due to Diabetes or insulin resistance) Plaque will begin to build up when the arteries are damaged. Platelets then will begin attaching to the site of injury, bunching together to form blood clots. These blood clots further limit the blood flow. Buildup of plaque in artery

Risk factors: Who is at risk of developing atherosclerosis? People who… Have unhealthy/high cholesterol levels Have Diabetes Have high blood pressure Deal with the condition Insulin Resistance Smoke Are overweight Never participate in any physical activity Are at an older age Have a family history of heart disease These put you at a higher risk of having atherosclerosis, but do not mean that you automatically have the disease.

How to Prevent Atherosclerosis To sum it all up, these following factors are causes to atherosclerosis and should be prevented: Smoking High cholesterol High blood pressure Diabetes Stress Lack of fruits and vegetables Excessive alcohol intake Lack of exercise Adopt healthy eating habits Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, dairy products, seafood, etc. Increase physical activity Exercise helps prevents elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, elevated triglyceride concentrations, LDL/HDL concentrations, etc. Avoid smoking Smoking damages/tightens blood vessels and raises your risk for atherosclerosis. Weight control Create a meal plan to avoid obesity and reduce risk for atherosclerosis.

Is Atherosclerosis Reversible? Atherosclerosis is reversible and can be prevented. Lifestyle changes are a big step towards the cure of atherosclerosis. Avoid smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, lack of fruits/vegetables intake, stress, etc. Medication for high cholesterol and blood pressure are also recommended to slow or halt the progression of atherosclerosis. It could also prevent risk of heart attacks and stroke. Bypass surgery is also an option in which surgeons “harvest” a healthy blood vessel to bypass a segment blocked by atherosclerosis. Angiography and stenting are common procedures. By using a thin tube that inserts into an artery in the leg or arm, enables the doctor to access diseased arteries. By doing so, blockages are visible on a live X-ray screen. Stenting often opens up a blocked artery and helps reduce symptoms.

Citations http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/causes http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/atrisk