Atherosclerosis and Cholesterol

Atherosclerosis is a medical term used by doctors to describe a condition in which cholesterol, in the form of fatty "plaque," builds up on your artery walls.

Atherosclerosis is dangerous because blood flows less efficiently to your organs and tissues. As fats from cholesterol accumulate on artery walls, there is also a greater chance an artery could burst, causing a life threatening blood clot.

The terms atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are often used interchangeably, although they are different. When you have arteriosclerosis, the walls of your arteries have hardened, becoming thick and stiff. High cholesterol levels also contribute to this condition. 

No one has been able to determine exactly why atherosclerosis occurs. There's some evidence however that, in some cases at least, it may start with damage or injury to an artery wall. Blood cells called platelets gather and surround the injury to repair the damage.

This process may lead to inflammation. Eventually, cholesterol and other metabolic wastes accumulate at the injury site. As these cholesterol deposits harden, they block the flow of blood as the artery becomes narrower.

Atherosclerosis can occur anywhere in the body, but it's generally considered to be a circulatory or heart problem. We're covering it here because of the role cholesterol plays in causing it.

It is a disease that progresses slowly. Recent studies have demonstrated that it can begin as early as childhood.

Besides high cholesterol levels in the blood, atherosclerosis can also be caused by high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and long term presence of nicotine from using tobacco products.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

As with many other diseases and conditions, you don't experience symptoms of atherosclerosis right away.  

In fact, many people have no idea they have atherosclerosis until they have an "event," meaning a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, the first symptoms they notice are the symptoms of imminent danger:

• chest pain or angina,
• numbness or weakness in the arms and legs,
• slurred speech and difficulty speaking,
• drooping muscles in the face.

Erectile dysfunction can also be a symptom of atherosclerosis.

Treatment

Early diagnosis and treatment can arrest the progress of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that is both preventable and treatable.

The first step is to commit yourself to lifestyle changes that lower your cholesterol levels and stop the accumulation of fat deposits on your artery walls.

Exercise is a great way to lower cholesterol. By elevating your heart rate, you push more blood through the arteries, and at a faster pace. This helps flush LDL or "bad" cholesterol out of your circulatory system.

You can also start to eat cholesterol-free foods and cholesterol lowering foods that increase your hdl or "good" cholesterol.

We have separate articles on both these topics elsewhere on this website.

Sometimes, however, lifestyle and diet changes aren't enough. Your doctor can recommend some prescription cholesterol medications including drugs known as statins and fibrates. Anti-platelet medications, such as aspirin, reduce the risk that platelets will accumulate in your arteries.

Anticoagulants such as heparin or warfarin (also known as Coumadin) can help prevent clots.

In addition to medications that lower cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications, which slow down the progress of atherosclerosis.

For some people, atherosclerosis has progressed to a point where surgery is the best option. There are a number of procedures available, including stents and bypass surgery.
 

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