mn Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. ‘As you get older, fats, cholesterol, and calcium can collect in your arteries and form plaque. The buildup of plaque makes it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. This buildup may occur in any artery in your body, including around your heart, legs, brain, and kidneys. It can result in a shortage of blood and oxygen in various tissues of your body, Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood clot. Without treatment, atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, among other conditions. Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. This condition can be prevented and many successful treatment options exist. What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis? Most symptoms of atherosclerosis don’t show up until a blockage occurs. Common, symptoms include: + chest pain or angina + pain in your leg, arm, and anywhere else that has a blocked artery + cramping in the buttocks while walking breath + shortness + fatigue + confusion, which occurs if the blockage affects circulation to your brain TERJoss of motor or sensory function on one side of the body, which occurs if the blockage affects circulation to your brain + muscle weakness in your legs from lack of circulation It’s also important to know the symptoms of heart attack and stroke. Both of these can be caused by atherosclerosis and require immediate medical attention. ‘The symptoms of a heart attack include: + chest pain or discomfort + pain in the shoulders, back, neck, arms, and jaw + abdominal pain + shortness of breath. + sweating + lightheadedness + nausea or vomiting + sense of impending doom The symptoms of stroke include + weakness or numbness in the face or limbs + trouble speaking, + trouble understanding speech + vision problems + loss of balance + sudden, severe headache . What causes atherosclerosis? When plaque builds up and the arteries become hard and inflamed, blood has trouble flowing through them to the rest of the body. This prevents your organs and tissues from getting the oxygenated blood they need to function«The following are common causes of hardening of the arteries: High cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy, yellow substance that's found naturally in the body as well as in certain foods you eat If the levels of cholesterol in your blood are too high, it can clog your arteries. It becomes a hard plaque that restricts or blocks blood circulation to your heart and other organs. How itis diagnosed? A cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any atypical sounds. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis. Tests can include a blood test to check your cholesterol levels a Doppler ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a picture of the artery that shows if there's a blockage lan ankle-brachial index, which looks for a blockage in your arms or legs by comparing the blood pressure in each limb ‘a magnetic resonance angiography or a computed tomography angiography, which create pictures of the large arteries in your body a cardiac angiogram, which is a type of chest X-ray that's taken after your heart arteries are injected with radioactive dye an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which measures the electrical activity in your heart to look for any areas of decreased blood flow a stress test, or exercise tolerance test, which monitors your heart rate and blood pressure while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycleA lipid profile, or lipid panel, is a blood test to check your lipid levels. Lipids are fats that cannot dissolve in blood. High lipid levels increase your risk for heart disease and a heart attack or stroke. A lipid profile includes the following: + Total cholesterol is the main number used for cholesterol values. © Goal: Less than 200 mg/d © Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL © High: 240 mg/dl or higher + LDL (bad) cholesterol carries cholesterol and deposits it in the arteries This can cause a blockage. ‘© Goal: 100 mg/dL or lower © Near goal: 100 to 129 mg/dL © Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL © High: 160 to 189 mg/dL © Very high: 190 mg/dl. or higher + HDL (good) cholesterol removes cholesterol from your body. © Goal: 60 mg/dL or higher © Borderline risk: 40 to 59 mg/d © High risk 40 mg/dl. or lower «Triglycerides are a different kind of fat than cholesterol © Goal: 150 mg/dl or lower © Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL. © High: 200 to 499 mg/dl © Very high: $00 mg/dl or higher How do | prepare for the test? Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for 12 to 14 hours before the test. If the test results are abnormal, patient may need treatment to decrease the risk for heart disease.