Atherosclerosis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the left artery

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the right artery

Enlarged view of atherosclerosis

Prevention of heart disease

Developmental process of atherosclerosis

Angina

Atherosclerosis

Cholesterol producers

Coronary artery balloon angioplasty - series

Atherosclerosis

Alternative Names:

Arteriosclerosis; Hardening of the arteries; Plaque buildup - arteries
Treatment:

To some extent, the body will protect itself by forming new blood vessels around the affected area. This is called developing "collaterals."

Medications may be recommended to reduce fats and cholesterol in your blood; a low-fat diet, weight loss, and exercise are also usually suggested. Control of high blood pressure is also important.

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Medications include cholestyramine, colestipol, nicotinic acid, gemfibrozil, probucol, atorvastatin, lovastatin, and others. Aspirin, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel (inhibitors of platelet clumping) or anti-coagulants may be used to reduce the risk of clot formation.

Balloon angioplasty uses a balloon-tipped catheter to flatten plaque and increase the blood flow past the deposits. The technique is used to open the arteries of the heart and other arteries in the body. Another widely used technique is stenting, which consists of implanting a small metal device inside the artery (usually following angioplasty) to keep the artery open.

Surgically removing deposits (endarterectomy) may be recommended in some cases. A bypass graft is the most invasive procedure. It uses a normal artery or vein from the patient to create a bridge that bypasses the blocked section of the artery.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome varies. All people begin to develop some degree of atherosclerosis as they age, and in some people, it leads to complications. Heart attack and stroke are potentially fatal complications of atherosclerosis.

Complications:

Coronary artery disease -- the blood supply to the heart is insufficient due to atherosclerosis/plaque in the arteries to the heart; a symptom is angina (chest pain)
Heart attack
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke
Insufficient blood supply to the limbs (mainly the legs and feet) due to obstruction (claudication)
Damage to organs
Atherosclerosis and obstruction of bypass grafts

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are at risk for atherosclerosis, particularly if symptoms of complications occur.

Consult with your physician before starting an exercise regimen if you have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, or if you have previously suffered a heart attack.