Arteriosclerosis, a Disease of the Heart

Arteriosclerosis is the condition wherein the arteries of the heart harden. The arteries are the heart’s blood vessels whose job is to carry the nutrients and oxygen to the different parts of the body. By nature, these arteries are elastic, strong, and flexible.

But as a person grows older, these walls may become stiff and thick. Too much pressure inside the vessels causes it. When the arteries become stiffer and is thickened, the flow of blood to the tissues and organs is restricted. And so arteriosclerosis occurs.

Although arteriosclerosis is considered to be a problem of the heart, it can also hit the other arteries found in the body. If in case the arteries to your limbs are affected, then the condition is called peripheral arterial disease. If it attacks the one leading to the brain, it is called stroke.

If you have arteriosclerosis, the chances of having coronary diseases, heart attacks, and chest pain are high. Arteriosclerosis may be fatal because it does not manifest itself early on in the disease. In fact, a person might not know that he had contracted the disease unless a health emergency arises.

Arteriosclerosis does not happen overnight. It gradually develops over time. This disease usually has neither signs nor symptoms at all. The whole thing will come into surface when the body stops getting the necessary oxygen coming from the blood.

But the most specific symptom is chest pain. Chest pain is a symptom not only of arteriosclerosis but of other heart diseases as well. Chest pain can also lead to heart attack. And it because the heart’s arteries become so obstructed and so the heart is working overtime to counter the condition.

Aside from chest pain, sufferers of the diseases will also feel dizzy, weak, or numb. These will be apparent if the arteries to the brain are affected. Mild stroke may be observed too, especially if the arteries in the neck are becomes the target. If arteriosclerosis is peripheral in nature, the symptom is leg pains, and it usually happen when walking a considerable distance. This occurs because the blood flow in the limbs is blocked.

Arteriosclerosis is a progressive disease. It develops very slowly and it may start even in early childhood. The main cause of this disease is the damage sustained by the inner layers or walls of the arteries. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are the reasons for the damage. The nicotine gained from smoking is also a culprit, as it is a known irritant. Certain diseases present in the body, such as diabetes, are also one of the causes.

When the arteries are damaged, the body’s natural defense works to repair it. But as time goes, plaques or fatty deposits might accumulate in the same spot. Fatty deposits are nothing but cholesterol and other waste products. And they have the tendency to harden. As it harden, space inside the arteries narrows as well. Then the supply of blood becomes reduced.

When these fatty deposits rupture and enter the bloodstream, it would clot the blood. Once that happens, the other organs of the body become affected too. Worse, heart attack may happen.

Those who have a history of aneurysm have a higher risk factor from acquiring arteriosclerosis than the people who don’t. It is also the same with people who had early heart diseases. Obesity is also a risk factor so people who are prone to the disease are advised to start reducing weight.

If and when you suspect you have this disease, consult with a specialist right away. This disease is easier to combat in their early stages. If they escalate to a more severe case, further problems and complications would arise.