Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition that prevents the supply of oxygen-rich blood to parts of the body due to the accumulation of plaque.

Atherosclerosis is caused by abnormal levels of cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, inherited, and unhealthy diet.

In the initial stage, no symptoms appear until serious, depending on which arteries are affected, it can lead to stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney problems and peripheral artery disease.

Atherosclerosis usually occurs in men in the 40s and women in the 50s to 60s.According to data from 2004, the first symptom of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease results in heart attack or sudden cardiac death in about 66 percent of men and 47 percent of women in the United States.

Prevention: Usually by taking a healthy diet, not smoking, exercising, and keeping a normal weight.

Treatment: involves medicines for blood pressure, medicines for lowering cholesterol such as statins, or medications for reducing coagulation, such as aspirin. Also, various procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, or carotid endarterectomy can be performed.

Subtopics

Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis | Chemokines and Atherosclerosis: A critical Assessment of Therapeutic Targets | Adhesion Molecules and Atherosclerosis | Cytokines and Atherosclerosis | Toll-Like Receptors in Atherosclerosis| PPAR-Based Therapies for the Management of Atherosclerosis | Pentraxins in Vascular Pathology | Metalloproteinase, the Endothelium and Atherosclerosis | Cathepsins in Atherosclerosis | The Plasmin system and Atherosclerosis | Mast Cell Proteases and Atherosclerosis | NADPH Oxidase and Atherosclerosis | Hene Oxygenase-1 and Atherosclerosis | Platelets: Role in Atherogenesis and thrombosis in Coronary Artery Disease