Atherosclerosis

Question: atherosclerosis??? hello. im a 14 year old boy. i weight 120lbs., and am about 5'6''. this is thin. i have no family history of atherosclerosis. however, sometimes ill get dizzi when i stand up after sitting, or at church when i stand. what is the likelihood that i have atherosclerosis? it's not in my family, and i don't think any heart prob.'s really are.sometimes ill get pain under my heart out of nowhere that hurts when i breathe deep. also, at bball, after running something hard, i sometimes have a hard time getting air. what couldi have?could it be atherosclerosis? thanks.

Answer: what you described is called orthostatic hypotension, decrease of blood pressure when moving from sitting to standing. it is noral at your age. you just have to adjust to it by doing this movement slowly. as for your chest and heart discomfort, if it happens after sternous exercices then it is ok. if it occurs on rest or follwoing mild exercise then you'd better see your doctor. good luck

Question: How many people are affected by atherosclerosis? Approximately, how many people in the U.S. are affected by atherosclerosis? I have a science project and my teacher requested this information. Please tell me where you got the information also. Please and thank you!

Answer: about 4.6 million in the US. This site has all the statistics http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/atherosc…

Question: Will I develop atherosclerosis even if my blood cholesterol is low? I am 40 and have been eating fatty fast-food several times a week for at least 20 years. My blood cholesterol profile has been outstanding for many years. I am not overweight by any means (slender), do not smoke, and drink on an occasional basis, and I get a yearly physical. I am pretty sedentary, but exercise maybe one or twice a week on the average. Will I still develop atherosclerosis (clogging of the ateries) even though my blood cholesterol profile is good?

Answer: Cholesterol is only one thing that can contribute to coronary disease. Other risk factors include being male, African American, overweight, family history, diabetic, elevated cholesterol, sedentary, and others. Some people have heart disease that have none of these. It is a disease that crosses all barriers. The best thing that we can do is to try to take care of ourselves and have regular check-ups.

Question: Is there any connection between atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis? I know atherosclerosis is the build of fat in arteries which becomes hard and MS is the the degeneration of the myelin sheath in nerve cells. Just wondering because the both have sclerosis in their names?

Answer: They both have "sclerosis" in the name because "sclerosis" literally means "scars." Atherosclerosis means "scars of the arteries" or "arterial scars"while Multiple Sclerosis means "many scars." The hard plaques that form within arteries are similar to the hard plaques that form in the areas where myelin has been destroyed by white blood cells.

Question: How will atherosclerosis affect the patient’s mental or psychological outlook? How will atherosclerosis affect the patient’s mental or psychological outlook? Will it affect body image? Lifestyle? Social life? Ability to work and/or take care of the home and family? Will it affect relationships with others? What about leisure time - will it be altered or affected?

Answer: Any sudden or chronic illness can alter one's psychological outlook. Depression is common in these situations. Depending on the severity, depression can affected any aspect of one's life.

Question: What are the immune response in atherosclerosis? Can one say that atherosclerosis is an autoimmune deficiency?

Answer: When the body senses the presence of bacteria or pathogen, the immune system is activated, the inflammation process that occurs has been linked to an increase of plaque formation or atherosclerosis. So no actually it is not an autoimmune deficiency but actually may be caused by an autoimmune reaction. Reduction of the autoimmune response, according to the attached article, will cause a decrease in the plaque formation.

Question: How does Atherosclerosis affect circulatory system ? Atherosclerosis is a disorder in which deposits of cholesterol and fatty acids collect on the inner walls of the arteries. How does this disorder affect the circulatory system?

Answer: Well it makes it hard for the blood to flow through the areas where the deposits have collected. So If the blood can't get through the area will eventually die off. Causing lots of problems. People have to get stints and all other kinds of surgery to fix the problem,and it causes death in severe cases.

Question: Which of the following is responsible of plaque formation in arterial wall and causes atherosclerosis? Which of the following is responsible of plaque formation in arterial wall and causes atherosclerosis? A. Oxidized LDL B. LDL C. HDL D. Fatty acids E. Cholesterol esters

Answer: LDL or low-density lipoproteins deliver cholesterol to our body. If you have a high LDL, then plaques can deposit on arterial walls which will cause them to narrow and harden resulting to atherosclerosis.

Question: Can a regular echocardiogram find atherosclerosis? I have had 3 Echos done on my heart in the last 5 months and I am wondering if Atherosclerosis can be detected through a regular echocardiogram. Thanks.

Answer: An echo looks at the overall structure and function of your heart. It looks at how the valves are working, how the blood is moving through the heart and how well the heart muscle is squeezing. If the atherosclerosis is severe enough that it is blocking/reducing blood flow the heart muscle then it could be detected on the echo in the form of a wall motion abnormality (meaning that part of the heart is not moving/squeezing as well as the rest of the heart muscle). In a normal resting echo the blockage has to be pretty significant in order for it to be detected. A stress echo is a better way to determine if atherosclerosis is present. This is where an echo is performed before and after exercise to see if "stressing" the heart can bring about/cause a wall motion abnormality. Ultimately the best way to determine atherosclerosis is by performing an angiogram via a heart cath.

Question: What are the symptoms of Atherosclerosis? What are the symptoms? Especially for someone in their early twenties? Will a doctor prescribe potassium chloride for atherosclerosis?

Answer: Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible, strong and elastic. Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries can make the walls thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats in and on your artery walls (plaques), which can restrict blood flow. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem, it can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis is a preventable and treatable condition. Symptoms Atherosclerosis develops gradually. There are usually no atherosclerosis symptoms until an artery is so narrowed or clogged that it can't supply adequate blood to your organs and tissues. Sometimes a blood clot completely obstructs blood flow, or even breaks apart and causes blood clots that can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis symptoms depend on which arteries are affected. For example: If you have atherosclerosis in your heart arteries, you may have symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, such as chest pain (angina). If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to your brain, you may have symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, or drooping muscles in your face. If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your arms and legs, you may have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, such as leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication). Sometimes atherosclerosis causes erectile dysfunction in men. When to see a doctor If you think you have atherosclerosis — or risk factors for hardening of the arteries — talk to your doctor. Also pay attention to early symptoms of inadequate blood flow, such as chest pain (angina), leg pain or numbness. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop atherosclerosis from worsening and prevent a medical emergency. Causes Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may begin as early as childhood. Although the exact cause is unknown, researchers suspect that atherosclerosis starts with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery. The damage may be caused by: High blood pressure High cholesterol An irritant, such as nicotine Certain diseases, such as diabetes Once the inner wall of an artery is damaged, blood cells called platelets often clump at the injury site to try to repair the artery, leading to inflammation. Over time, fatty deposits (plaques) made of cholesterol and other cellular waste products also accumulate at the injury and harden, narrowing your arteries. The organs and tissues connected to the blocked arteries then don't receive enough blood to function properly. Eventually pieces of the fatty deposits may rupture and enter your bloodstream. This can cause a blood clot to form and damage your organs, such as in a heart attack. A blood clot can also travel to other parts of your body and partially or totally block blood flow to another organ. Tests and diagnosis Your doctor may find signs of narrowed, enlarged or hardened arteries during a physical exam. These include: A weak or absent pulse below the narrowed area of your artery Decreased blood pressure in an affected limb Whooshing sounds (bruits) over your arteries, heard with a stethoscope Signs of a pulsating bulge (aneurysm) in your abdomen or behind your knee Evidence of poor wound healing in the area where your blood flow is restricted Depending on the results of the physical exam, your doctor may suggest one or more diagnostic tests, including: Blood tests. Lab tests can detect increased levels of cholesterol and blood sugar that may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Doppler ultrasound. Your doctor may use a special ultrasound device (Doppler ultrasound) to measure your blood pressure at various points along your arm or leg. These measurements can help your doctor gauge the degree of any blockages, as well as the speed of blood flow in your arteries. Ankle-brachial index. This test can tell if you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your legs and feet. Your doctor may compare the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. This is known as the ankle-brachial index. An abnormal difference may indicate peripheral vascular disease, which is usually caused by atherosclerosis. Electrocardiogram (ECG). An electrocardiogram records electrical signals as they travel through your heart. An ECG can often reveal evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's in progress. If your signs and symptoms occur most often during exercise, your doctor may ask you to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike during an ECG. Angi