Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis usually doesn't cause signs and symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. Many people don't know they have the disease until they have a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke. If, however, someone has signs and symptoms, those depend on which arteries are affected such as coronary arteries, carotid arteries, peripheral arteries, or renal arteries.
Common Causes of Atherosclerosis
The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn't known. However, studies show that atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that may start in childhood. It develops faster as you age. Atherosclerosis may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. Contributing factors include:
- Smoking
- High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar (diabetes or insulin resistance)
To help prevent atherosclerosis, some risk factors may be controlled or modified:
Controllable Risk Factors
- Follow a healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Monitor high blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Don't smoke
Non-controllable Risk Factors
- Age
- Family history
Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose atherosclerosis based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and test results.
Treatment
Treatments for atherosclerosis may include heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medicines, and medical procedures or surgery. The goals of treatment include:
- Lowering the risk of blood clots forming
- Preventing atherosclerosis-related diseases
- Reducing risk factors in an effort to slow or stop the buildup of plaque
- Relieving symptoms
- Widening or bypassing plaque-clogged arteries
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctors. Always talk with your doctors about diagnosis and treatment options.