What is atherosclerosis? Is it bad for the heart?

From MayoClinic.com:

Definition
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible, strong and elastic. Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries can make the walls thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats in and on your artery walls (plaques), which can restrict blood flow. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem, it can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis is a preventable and treatable condition.

Symptoms
Atherosclerosis develops gradually. There are usually no atherosclerosis symptoms until an artery is so narrowed or clogged that it can't supply adequate blood to your organs and tissues. Sometimes a blood clot completely obstructs blood flow, or even breaks apart and causes blood clots that can trigger a heart attack or stroke.

Atherosclerosis symptoms depend on which arteries are affected. For example:

If you have atherosclerosis in your heart arteries, you may have symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, such as chest pain (angina).
If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to your brain, you may have symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, or drooping muscles in your face.
If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your arms and legs, you may have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, such as leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication).
Sometimes atherosclerosis causes erectile dysfunction in men.

Does high blood pressure also cause these disease to us?

theses disease doesnt lead you to heart problems but high in cholesterol is the one that will greatly contribute or lead you to coronary or heart disease.

The symptom of atherosclerosis says that when a artery is so narrow or being clogged this is the time you have these disease. We also have arteries going to the brain so this illness will lead someone on getting aneurysm. Is this correct?

johnmichael - 14 December 2008 05:55 PM

The symptom of atherosclerosis says that when a artery is so narrow or being clogged this is the time you have these disease. We also have arteries going to the brain so this illness will lead someone on getting aneurysm. Is this correct?

What causes the artery to clog or become narrow?

Yes, it could lead to aneurysm. there are arteries going to our brain when clogged. The patient will need to have surgery to remove the blood clot out of the arteries.

Most people say that when a person suffers from aneurysm and gets an operation, they could be comatose or brain dead. Is there any chance of living normal after the surgery?

What are the chances of surviving after you get a surgery?

It’s 5% to 10% chance of living. This is a very fatal surgery either you will live with irregular body function or just a living dead person.

Let me answer your question, Cj. Poor lifestyle, like smoking, poor nutrition, and stress, clog the arteries. People always say it’s the fat that clogs the arteries, but there are several obese or overweight people who don’t have this disease.

Is heart bypass one of the treatments for atherosclerosis?

Yes, it is also considered one of the surgeries for this type of disease. When an artery is clog, doctors create another way for the blood to pump to the heart and connect the artery that has been affected.

cj1164 - 19 December 2008 04:39 PM

What causes the artery to clog or become narrow?

Age and if we eat too much fatty food can cause the artery to be narrow and clogged.

This is one of a successful operation to remove clog in the artery. My father’s doctor confirmed it and he had done several times already.