Atherosclerosis is the hardening of arteries caused by plaque buildup, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other fatal conditions. Risk factors include age, family history, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and a high-fat diet. Diagnostic tests include MRI, CT scans, stress tests, arteriography, and blood tests.
Atherosclerosis is the medical term used to describe hardening of the arteries. A condition that develops in many people, it occurs when plaque begins to build up on the arterial walls of the body. This is a progressive condition that often doesn’t present itself for diagnosis until it affects the health of the body.
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart attacks and heart disease. It can also cause strokes and can be potentially fatal over time. Essentially, the buildup of plaque on the arterial walls becomes so significant that it begins to block blood flow. When vital organs, such as the heart or lungs, are deprived of oxygen-rich blood, it becomes a life-threatening condition. Other complications are the detachment of accumulated plaque and blood clots traveling to and depositing in other parts of the body.
While medical research hasn’t conclusively proven what causes the condition, certain factors are known to pose greater risks for developing the condition. Age and family history play a role in risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. Most people’s arteries begin to build up with plaque as they get older, but a family history can increase your risk of developing the condition sooner. Other risk factors include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. A regular diet high in fat and cholesterol can also increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis typically isn’t diagnosed without other symptoms that arise due to a severely blocked or narrowed artery. Chest pain, heart attack, or stroke can be a result of the condition, even though the condition may not have been detected before. For people who have a high risk of developing the condition or people who have related symptoms, diagnostic tests may be done to determine if atherosclerosis is present in a patient. Among other tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans, stress tests, arteriography, and blood tests are diagnostic tools that can help doctors discover atherosclerosis. Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other risk factors, or if symptoms are present.
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