By: Sara Darnell, Alexis Davidson, and Megan Fulhorst Atherosclerosis By: Sara Darnell, Alexis Davidson, and Megan Fulhorst

What is Atherosclerosis Plaque builds up on artery walls causing the body to be deprived of oxygen. Plague is made up of many substances from the blood. Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes for many heart problems which is why it is sometime referred to as heart disease. Atherosclerosis is a disease where plaque builds up on artery walls. The build up of the plaque causes a decrease in the blood flow which deprives the body of oxygen because the blood is not flowing at a normal rate. The plaque that build up on the artery walls is made up of substances from the blood like, fat, cholesterol, and calcium. Atherosclerosis also causes many other heart problems such as, Carotid (ka-ROT-id) artery disease, Peripheral artery disease, and Chronic kidney disease. Since Atherosclerosis is the cause of many heart problems, it is also called heart disease.

Causes of Atherosclerosis Can start at a young age Signs are not usually shown in the first stages of Atherosclerosis. An increased risk of Atherosclerosis comes from Smoking High cholesterol and blood pressure Diabetes Obesity Unhealthy eating and a lack of exercise Stress Atherosclerosis can start while you are a teenage. A total of 17% of teens have atherosclerosis. As you get older the risk increases. 82% of people ages 50 and older had atherosclerosis. There are many times that people don’t even know that they have the disease because symptoms are not shown, and some people don’t even know they have it. Many things increase someone’s chance of getting atherosclerosis like, smoking, high cholesterol and blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress, lack of exercise, and unhealth eating habits like consuming high amounts of alcohol and not enough fruits and vegetables.

Risk Factors Plaque builds up on the arterial walls causing narrowing. This narrowing can increase blood pressure, or possibly have no symptoms at all. Plaque continually builds up and has the potential to block arteries. Experiencing sharp pain while exercising is the main symptom of atherosclerosis and it is due to the plaque in one’s artery. A buildup of plaque can break apart and cause blood clotting. This can cause a stroke or a heart attack. People can have no symptoms and experience atherosclerosis for years. Permanent organ damage occurs in the heart and brain and can possibly lead to death.

Risk factors (cont.) Coronary Artery Disease: A plaque that has grown to a certain size and is considered stable can break and lead to stroke or heart attack. Cerebrovascular Disease: Brain damage can occur during stroke due to ruptured plaques takes place. Peripheral Artery Disease: The buildups of the plaque lead to sub-par circulation of the blood through the body; most notably the extremities. This is painful and injuries have the potential to not heal correctly. This causes permanent organ damage and excruciating pain. This brain damage is irreversible and can make daily life extremely difficult. There may be a need for rehabilitation. This can lead to infection and possibly the need for amputation of one’s limb.

Prevention Once there is a buildup of plaque in the arteries, to prevent multiple plaques and decrease the growth rate of the plaque, special measures can be taken. Exercise can benefit the body and reduce risk. Not smoking anymore. A healthy diet can improve your body’s overall health. Medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol can help reduce risk of larger or multiple plaque buildups, as these are significant causes of atherosclerosis. Reducing stress levels can improve your general heart rate and the strain on your arteries. Exercising for one hour or more per day is ideal. This lessens the restriction of blood vessels and causes blood pressure to not be as high A low fat diet is ideal, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and some cereals.

Prevention (cont.) CONT. Reducing alcohol consumption. Losing weight can reduce risk. Angiography and stenting is a procedure which widens the arteries allowing blood to move more smoothly. Bypass surgery can redirect blood flow around arteries with little to no blood flow. Taking a medication that reduces blood clotting can be beneficial. Studies show that alcohol consumption correlates with the risk of atherosclerosis. Obesity is a main factor in the development of atherosclerosis. The blood flow can move around plaque and the risk for rupturing is reduced. A healthy blood vessel is taken from a part of the body (usually the leg) to redirect the blood flow. Taking a Baby aspirin daily is shown to be a good choice.

Is Atherosclerosis Reversible? Atherosclerosis is not reversible, although there are certain treatments that can possibly slow the plaque buildup. Atheroma liquids in the arteries can be reabsorbed, but calcification and hyalinization are irreversible. Cholesterol in the atherosclerotic artery can exchange with the cholesterol in the blood, but this exchange does not cause for a net transfer of lipids. atheroma= an abnormal mass of fatty or lipid material with a fibrous covering Calcification and hyalinization= sclerosis The rate of equilibration with the blood is the slowest in the arteries than all other tissues, other than the the brain, and the presence of atherosclerosis seem to slow the rate even more. This means that although the lipids are being reabsorbed, the amount of cholesterol present is not changing.