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  1. Arteriosclerosis atherosclerosis

    Content medically reviewed by
    Dr. Kabir Sethiverified specialist
    DM, Cardiology
    View full profile onLinkedIn logoLinkedIn
    Symptoms
    If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.

    Plaque build-up happens gradually. Mild arteriosclerosis may not have any symptoms.

    Symptoms of moderate to severe arteriosclerosis depend on the arteries affected; moderate to severe arteriosclerosis symptoms include:

    • Chest pain or angina
    • Pain in your leg, arm, and anywhere else that has a blocked artery
    • Shortness of breath
    • Fatigue
    • Confusion, which occurs if the blockage affects circulation to your brain
    • Muscle weakness in your legs from lack of blood circulation

    Causes

    • The exact cause is unknown. The damage to the inner lining of the artery may lead to arteriosclerosis. The major possible causes of damage to the arteries are:
    • The major possible causes of damage to the arteries are:
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • High triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in blood
    • Consumption of tobacco in any form, either chewable or smoking
    • Obesity
    • Diabetes
    • Inflammation from diseases, such as arthritis, lupus or infections, or Inflammation of unknown cause

    Prevention

    A healthy lifestyle helps in slowing down the progression of, or in reversal of atherosclerosis.

    • Exercise regularly
    • Maintain a healthy weight
    • Manage blood pressure
    • Quit smoking
    • Reduce stress
    • Avoid foods containing saturated and trans fat

    Complications

    Arteriosclerosis can cause the following conditions:

    • Coronary artery disease: plaque deposits in coronary artery blocks the blood flow.
    • Carotid artery disease: carotid artery present in neck and the supply of blood to the brain get affected due to plaque buildup in the arteries.
    • Peripheral artery disease: narrowing of the arteries present in the lower body.
    • Kidney disease: plaque deposition in renal arteries. Arteriosclerosis of these arteries may lead to kidney failure.

    Source: Focus Medica . For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. Learn more
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  2. People also ask
    What treatments are available for atherosclerosis?
    Possible surgeries for treating atherosclerosis include: bypass surgery, which involves using a vessel from somewhere else in your body or a synthetic tube to divert blood around your blocked or narrowed artery thrombolytic therapy, which involves dissolving a blood clot by injecting a drug into your affected artery

    Atherosclerosis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Healthli…

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    What are the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis?
    Arteriosclerosis has several different causes. Atherosclerosis, which develops from fatty plaque buildup, is a common type of arteriosclerosis. Plaque often starts to build up during childhood and gets worse with age. Risk factors include unhealthy cholesterol levels, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and your Genes.

    Atherosclerosis - What Is Atherosclerosis? | NHLBI, NIH

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    What are some common symptoms of atherosclerosis?
    Most symptoms of atherosclerosis don’t show up until a blockage occurs. Common symptoms include: confusion, which occurs if the blockage affects circulation to your brain loss of motor or sensory function on one side of the body, which occurs if the blockage affects circulation to your brain

    Atherosclerosis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Healthli…

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    What is the cause of atherosclerosis?
    Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. As you get older, fats, cholesterol, and calcium can collect in your arteries and form plaque.

    Atherosclerosis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment - Healthli…

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  4. Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/...

    Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo …

  5. WebMD
    https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis

    Atherosclerosis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

  6. American Heart Association
    https://www.heart.org/.../atherosclerosis

    What is Atherosclerosis? | American Heart Association

    WebFeb 16, 2024 · Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries due to plaque buildup, which can block blood flow and cause serious health problems. Learn about the risk factors, symptoms and treatments of …