Atherosclerosis

Elise Wood Stress Management

What is atherosclerosis…

Narrowing of the walls of the arteries

Excessive plaque build up

Disrupts blood flow

Potential cardiovascular complications

Related to arteriosclerosis

*Someone with arteriosclerosis (hardening), may not have atherosclerosis (plaque), but someone with atherosclerosis does have arteriosclerosis- which leads to a further decrease in blood flow.*

Signs & Symptoms…

Can develop during adolescents

Depends on what artery is affected

Possible artery blockages and their associated symptoms:

Carotid: blood to the brain – stroke

Coronary: blood to the heart – angina

Renal: blood to kidneys – chronic kidney disease

Peripheral: blood to limbs – leg pain

What can cause/trigger atherosclerosis…

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Smoking

High levels of blood glucose

Lack of exercise/Overweight, obesity

Unhealthy diet

General Statistics…

-0.3 mm lower threshold/ 0.5 mm higher threshold (more severe)-Plaque can start to form even at age 10

Impact of stress…

Social stress and lack of social support

Stress hormone- Angiotensin II- sympathetic nervous system

Case study on atherosclerosis prone mice

Increases blood pressure/hypertension

Ultimately affects atherosclerosis

Who gets it…

It might be easier to ask, who doesn't get atherosclerosis?

a large number of asymptomatic young people have evidence of atherosclerosis.

If you are 40 and generally healthy, you have about a 50% chance of developing serious atherosclerosis in your lifetime

How it develops…

deposits of cholesterol (called plaque) accumulate at an injured area in the inner lining of an artery

deposits harden and narrow the arteries, blood flow to the tissues decreases

Thrombus

Blood clot

Blockage

Chronic or Communicable?..

Chronic disease that can remain asymptomatic

Can stem from other chronic diseases

Complications are chronic, and slowly progressive

Known treatment…

Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, etc.)

Medicine to slow the formation of plaque/ lower cholesterol/ blood pressure

Severe Atherosclerosis:

Surgeries: Angioplasty (opening blocked arteries, stent; mesh tube after) Coronary artery bypass grafting, (arteries/veins from other sources bypass blocked) Carotid endarterectomy. (removal of plaque in neck-prevent stroke)

Plaque Removal

Success rates, Morbidity & Mortality rates…

Success: With treatment, you may see improvement in your health, but this may take time. Cannot be reversed, but can be slowed down

Morbidity: Atherosclerosis was present in 85% of those older than 50. More than 25 million persons in the United States have at least one clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis

Mortality: Around 500,000 people will die of coronary artery disease this year. More than a million will have a heart attack. One-third of all deaths in Americans older than 35 are due to coronary artery disease.

Prevention…

Lifestyle changes!

Healthy diet, low saturated fat

Exercising

Quit smoking

Losing weight if overweight/obese

Manage stress

Treating associated conditions (hypertension, diabetes, etc)

Sources

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis?page=2

http://franciscan.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=10&pid=10&gid=000251

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/treatment.html

http://www.healthline.com/health/atherosclerosis#Prevention

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247837.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiotensi