The disease tends to be progressive and gets worse with time. Over time, plaque, which is made of fatty cells cholesterol , calcium, and other waste products, builds up in a major artery. The artery becomes more and more narrow, which means blood is unable to get to areas it needs to reach. There is also a higher risk that if a blood clot breaks away from another area in the body, it could get stuck in the narrow artery and cut off blood supply completely, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Atherosclerosis is a complex condition, generally starting early in life and progressing as people get older. Studies have found that children as young as 10 to 14 can show the early stages of atherosclerosis. For some people, the disease advances quickly in their 20s and 30s, while others may not have issues until their 50s or 60s. The most common contributors to this damage are high cholesterol , high blood pressure , and smoking cigarettes. Your arteries carry oxygenated blood to vital organs like your heart, brain, and kidneys.
How your body is affected depends on which arteries are blocked. If you have symptoms, like a weak pulse near a major artery, lower blood pressure near an arm or leg, or signs of an aneurysm, your doctor may notice them during a regular physical exam. Results from a blood test can tell the doctor if you have high cholesterol.
If atherosclerosis has progressed beyond what lifestyle changes can reduce, there are medications and surgical treatments available. Medications typically include drugs to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Some examples are:. Surgery is considered a more aggressive treatment and is done if the blockage is life-threatening. A surgeon may go in and remove plaque from an artery or redirect blood flow around the blocked artery. The effects of this can depend on the location of the blockage.
Clogged arteries can be particularly dangerous when they affect blood supplying the heart or brain as these organs need continuous supplies of oxygen to keep functioning properly. Sometimes there can be warning signs that an artery is blocked before it causes a serious event.
Angina occurs when there is a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the heart. It can cause symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, heart palpitations and sweating, which may be triggered by physical activity. Transient Ischemic Attacks TIAs or mini-strokes can occur when there is a blockage affecting the brain.
The symptoms can include temporary weakness on one side of your body, loss of vision in one eye, or slurred speech. Consuming a plant-based diet free of cholesterol and low in fat has been proven to reverse arterial blockages and improve blood flow. Join MDs, RDs, RNs, chefs, and motivational speakers to help prevent, treat, and reverse diabetes with an empowering plant-based diet! Register Now. Food for Life classes teach you how to improve your health with a plant-based diet. Find a Class. More on Heart Disease.
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