Flores, Marione Amor T.

CHM303 12174

02.04.12

ATHEROSCLEROSIS Atherosclerosis, the most common form of arteriosclerosis, is characterized by a build up of arterial plaque that may become hardened by calcium. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death. Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body, including arteries in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. As a result, different diseases may develop based on which arteries are affected

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS Arteriosclerosis differs from atherosclerosis, even though the terms are often used interchangeably. The primary lesion in arteriosclerosis is a progressive thickening of the intima of the vessel with fibrous tissue and fatty material. It occurs in plaques, is apparent almost from birth, and is universal in development. It affects most areas of disturbed flow, such as bifurcations, and large and medium vessels more than small. Clinical disease appears as the arterial lumen progressively narrows and is finally climaxed by clotting within the narrowed, sludging vessel or over an ulcerated plaque. The intimal thickening also interferes with nourishment of the muscular arterial wall, resulting in fibrosis and loss of muscle and elastic tissue in the media. The vessel may calcify and become rigid and pipe-like with loss of flow efficiency, or the wall may stretch and ultimately fragment as an aneurysm. Arteriosclerosis is the underlying disease in most cases of myocardial infarction, stroke, and abdominal aneurysm, and its effect on the limbs is not the least of its destructive propensities. Arteriosclerosis varies widely in severity among nations but the reasons for this are not yet known. A moderate diet with weight control, an active life in which exercise plays a daily part, avoidance of smoking, and treatment of hypertension are all known to be beneficial. The role of various dietary components is unclear, total calories being the primary consideration. Stress may be significant but it is not readily subject to quantification.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/ http://www.healthandphysicaleducationteacher.com