Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease (Gibbons). Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart and other locations in the body (Gibbons). The plaque inside of the arteries is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in blood (Gibbons). Plaque hardens and narrows arteries over time, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the organs (Gibbons). Atherosclerosis may develop different diseases based on which arteries are affected, any artery in the body can be affected, including arteries in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys (Gibbons). Atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that may start during childhood years and develop faster as you age (Gibbons). However, the exact cause of …show more content…
During a physical exam, a doctor may listen to the arteries for abnormal whooshing sounds called bruits which indicate poor blood flow due to plaque buildup (Gibbons). Blood tests check the level of certain fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins in the blood, abnormal levels may be a sign of being at risk for Atherosclerosis (Gibbons). An EKG or electrocardiogram is a simple, painless test that detects and records the heart’s electrical activity, showing how fast the heart is beating and its rhythm (Gibbons). The electrocardiogram also records the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through the heart and can also show signs of previous or current heart attacks (Gibbons). Chest X-rays can reveal signs of heart failure and take pictures of the organs and structures inside the chest, such as the heart, lungs, and blood vessels (Gibbons). Echocardiography uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart, identifying areas of poor blood flow to the heart
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to the dysfunctional conditions of the heart, arteries, and veins that supply oxygen to vital life- sustaining areas of the body like the brain, the heart itself and other vital organs. Since the term cardiovascular disease refers to any dysfunction of the cardiovascular system there are many different diseases in the cardiovascular category, and many of these diseases are strongly intertwined. Ischemic Heart Disease is the medical idiom for the obstruction of blood flow to the heart. It is usually due largely in part to excess fat or plaque deposits that narrow the veins that provide oxygenated blood to the heart. This excess fat buildup and plaque are respectively known as arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. Hypertension is frequently a result of both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis, and can lead to more serious CVDs, such as angina attack (an acute and squeezing chest pain due to inefficient blood flow to the heart), and myocardial infarction( the sudden death of part of the heart muscle). A stroke is a CVD that occurs when there is in inadequate oxygen flow to the brain. An abnormally high or abnormally low heart rate because of the disruption of the natural electric impulses of the heart is called cardiac arrhythmia. Carditis and endocarditis, the infection and inflammation of the heart, can occur as a result of a weak immune system, liver problems, heart surgery, or an autoimmune disorder.
An electrocardiograph (ECG) is a common test that tracks impulses through the heart. Sensors are placed on the body to pick up impulses and the ECG will illustrate the time each impulse takes to get from the upper chambers to the lower chambers of the heart by showing three waves. The "P wave" is the first wave that originates from the atria, followed by the "QRS complex" that comes from the ventricles, and lastly the "T wave" that shows when the ventricles are at rest again (Electrocardiogram, 2015). Doctors will time the waves to see if the timing is correct or if they are too fast or too slow (Figures 3 and 4). They will also measure the impulse to see if one part of the heart has too much electrical activity than it is able to handle. This test can also be done with a miniature portable ECG recorder that can be worn for a period of time to actually catch an episode of SVT, which is usually more successful because episodes are so unpredictable. These portable ECGs can also be called Holt monitors and event recorders and also have sensors that get tape on specific areas of the chest (Electrocardiogram, 2015). Another more specialized test for those already diagnosed with SVT but want to locate the exact cause of abnormal heart beats is an electrophysiologic test. Doctors insert catheters with electrical sensors on them in a vein in the arm or upper thigh. The doctor moves the catheter around in the heart, with the help
Peripheral Arterial Disease is most commonly a result of atherosclerosis, the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque can build up and harden and narrow the arteries. This limits blood flow throughout the body. PAD occurs if plaque builds up in the major arteries that supply oxygen-ri...
Most people with symptoms related to the function of the heart will have an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray and echocardiogram (Echo), which allows the structure and function of the heart to be examined.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of multifactorial chronic heart disease. It is a consequence of plaque buildup in coronary arteries. The arterial blood vessels, which begin out smooth and elastic become narrow and rigid, curtailing blood flow resulting in deprived of oxygen and nutrients to the heart [1].
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty material called plaque along the walls of the arteries. This causes arteries to become narrowed and less flexible.
Oxygen is vital to a beating, healthy heart because it is needed to perform cellular respiration in order to pump the blood. When there is no oxygen being transported to the heart, the heart cannot pump blood, and eventually after being inactive, the heart tissue dies . This results in a heart attack. Heart attacks can be diagnosed before it is too late. One method of diagnosis is through a blood test. Blood tests are capable of sorting through the material found in blood, and if heart cell contents are found in the specimen, a heart attack can be diagnosed. If the levels of the cell contents are higher, this signifies that the heart attack is more severe. Another method of diagnosis is an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG measures the rhythm of the heart in order to detect defects. There are many other strategies that are used by doctors in order to diagnose a heart attack, such as chest x-rays, stress tests, tilt table tests, and echocardiograms, to name a few. A myocardial biopsy involves looking at the heart cells, and is accomplished by collecting a sample of heart cells from the patient. If the results are positive, a heart attack is diagnosed. A heart MRI involves looking at images of the heart in order to detect heart failure. The doctor uses the images to look for disorders in the structure of the
Have you ever felt a chest pain, sudden dizziness, weakness, fatigue, etc.? If you answered “Yes” to any of this, it can be Atherosclerosis. On this paper I’m going explain in detail what does Atherosclerosis means. What are the causes, symptoms, treatments? Can we melt the fatty plaques naturally? And more different information in relation to this subject. Atherosclerosis is not an illness that you get from one day to another, actually is an illness that by age, high pressure, the type of your diet, lack of exercise, even people with diabetes would have atherosclerosis with the time. But is not something that cannot be treated, you can go to the doctor for a checkup, change of diet, increase your physical exercise, etc.
CHD is primarily due to atherosclerosis, which is the blockage of blood flow in the arteries due to the accumulation of fats, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood. Atherosclerosis takes place over many years, but when the blood flow becomes so limited due to the build up of plaque in the arteries, there becomes a serious problem. “When...
Coronary artery disease develops when your coronary arteries the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol containing deposits or plaque on your arteries are usually to blame for coronary artery disease. When plaques build up, they narrow your coronary arteries, causing your heart to receive less blood. Eventually, the decreased blood flow may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or other coronary artery disease signs and symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.
Coronary heart disease is defined by the hardening of the epicardial coronary arteries. The buildup of plaque in the arteries slowly narrows the coronary artery lumen. In order to better understand the physiology of the disease, it is important to first know the basic anatomy of the human heart. The aorta, located in the superior region of the heart, branches off into two main coronary blood vessels, otherwise known as arteries. The arteries are located on the left and right side of the heart and span its surface. They subsequently branch off into smaller arteries which supply oxygen-rich blood to the entire heart (Texas Heart Institute, 2013). Therefore, the narrowing of these arteries due to plaque buildup significantly impairs blood flow throughout the heart.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. 13 million people are affected by this disease. CHD is also called Hardening of the Arteries, CAD. CHD is cause by the build-up of plaque in the arteries that connect to the heart. The build-up is caused by fat materials and other substances that form plaque. The plaque builds-up on the wall of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are responsible of the blood flow and oxygen that gets to the heart. The build-up of the fat materials causes the arteries to get narrow, this results in the blood flow and oxygen to the heart to slow down or even stop.
Heart disease is caused by plaque buildup in arteries also called atherosclerosis which leads to blockages. The arteries change from smooth and elastic to...
LDL or bad cholesterol comes from food that is a high source of cholesterol and/or saturated fats. Plaque forms when bad or LDL cholesterol builds up in your bloodstream and attaches to the arterial wall, as more LDL builds up the plaque becomes larger, this can become a major problem for your cardiovascular system. Because plaque is a substance that has rough edges, it reduces the elastic nature of the artery which means your heart will have to work double-time to pump the necessary blood to all your limbs, that will mean your limbs won’t get the amount of oxygen that they require to function properly. Plaque can also narrow the area blood has to pass through, this means your heart has to work overtime and overall capacity of your cardiovascular system is lowered. When the LDL cholesterol embeds itself in the wall of the artery it than damages the artery then blood pressure expands it which causes an aneurysm. When an aneurysm is too weak there is a high possibility of it bursting, when that happens it leaves the cells in and around that area without oxygen. If that artery is connected to a major vital organ the person will most likely die. When the blood flow is slowed it shows a greater risk for blood clots and although blood clots are natural and important to healing broken blood vessels, if blood clots gather inside the blood vessel this proves to be a serious health risk. The clots have the possibility to get stuck and completely cut off the blood flow to cells, leaving them without oxygen and causing them to die. If a clot gets inside a blood vessel connected to a major organ this could cause the person to die. The heart is fed by the coronary artery, if plaque or a blood clot blocks off blood flow to the heart, the heart ...
Atherosclerosis is a disease that occurs when arteries become blocked, inflamed, or hardened. As a result of this, blood cannot easily pass through the artery, and blood pressure increases. Many people suffer from atherosclerosis as they age, but young people can be affected by atherosclerosis also. There are many preventative steps that can be taken to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis; however, if atherosclerosis does develop in the arteries, medications can be given to help the individual receive adequate blood flow to important tissues. Atherosclerosis is a very serious condition that requires medical attention and a change in life style because it is a precursor to many dangerous and potentially fatal diseases.