Why Is Atherosclerosis Important

Why Is Atherosclerosis Important
Atherosclerosis: Its incidence and importance
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity and is accounted for
almost 1 out of 5 deaths in the world. Atherosclerosis is a chronic heart disease that causes most of
the vascular deaths. The fat deposition in arterial walls progressively develop into atheroma leading
to restriction in blood circulation thus increasing risk of local thrombosis. Local thrombosis often
forms the base that leads to partial or total obstruction of the artery. At the time of birth, the
probability of a cardiovascular disease is 47%. The impact of Atherosclerosis on morbidity and
mortality and its economic implications created a necessity for new treatments and prevention
strategies. It
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Atherosclerosis Research Paper
Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries, which quietly and gradually blocks
arteries, putting blood flow at risk, according to WebMD. Plaque gathers up in the arteries and is
composed of fatty substances, calcium, fibrin, cholesterol, and waste products from cells. It can
completely or partly cut off the blood in the artery. One of two things can happen in the area where
the plaque is building up in the artery: a piece of the plaque may break off or a blood clot may form
on the plaque's surface, according to the American Heart Association. Atherosclerosis is a kind of
arteriosclerosis, which is simply the thickening and hardening of arteries. It is typically the agent of
strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and heart attacks, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There is also heart disease, stroke, insufficient blood supply to the specific body parts, and even
death, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Patients with this condition should
make sure they see their doctors to see if they need to make any changes to their current lifestyle.
They may have to take certain medicine to maintain atherosclerosis and prevent further problems.
With treatment, simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact, such as eating healthier, exercising
regularly, and not smoking. This won't get rid of the artery blockages but it will decrease the
possibility of getting a heart attack or stroke. Taking medicine for high cholesterol and blood
pressure can possibly impede atherosclerosis and also decrease the possibility of getting a heart
attack or stroke. Angioplasty and stenting can often open up a blocked artery, according to WebMD.
Stenting assists in decreasing the symptoms but it does not stop any heart attacks from happening
later on. In bypass surgery, surgeons get a healthy blood vessel, from usually the chest or leg, and
use it to go around a blocked section. The surgery does come with complications so it's reserved for
patients with crucial symptoms and disadvantages because of

What is Atherosclerosis?
Introduction
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that causes formation of plaques under the intimal layer
of the blood vessel wall. As the plaque grows and calcifies, it narrows the blood vessel lumen and
decreases blood flow to the downstream tissue. Also, risk of plaque rupture increases. Plaque
rupture leads to platelet adhesion that results in a thrombus, which occludes the artery. Occlusion of
the coronary arteries results in myocardial infarction. Pathologies affecting small and medium sized
arteries are the leading cause of death worldwide. Due to development of better treatments,
mortality rates after myocardial infarction have decreased in the last decades (REF). However,
replacement of the occluded artery is often necessary. The currently available options for these
transplants are limited. The most frequently applied treatment for coronary artery occlusion is a
bypass operation. During this operation, an autologous blood vessel (often a saphenous vein or a
mammary artery) is used to bypass the coronary artery. The use of these so–called autografts is
invasive and may be limited due to previous harvesting and anatomical variability. Furthermore,
atherosclerosis is often found in almost all blood vessels of the patient. The risk of occlusion of the
autograft is high (Hasan et al., 2014).
Developments in tissue engineering allow for the creation of new vascular grafts from synthetic or
natural polymers and patient derived cells. Given the occurrence of

Atherosclerosis is a reduction of the arteries triggered by a buildup of plaque. It is also called
arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that transport oxygen and
nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. As the body gets older, fat and cholesterol can collect
in the arteries and form plaque. The buildup of plaque makes it difficult for blood to flow through
the arteries. This buildup may transpire in any artery in the body and can result in a shortage of
blood and oxygen in various tissues of the body. Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood
clot. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. According to the University of
Maryland ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It also can be caused my high cholesterol, fats, and aging. Cholesterol can increase in the blood and
clog the arteries. It becomes a hard plaque that restricts or blocks blood circulation to the heart and
other organs. Eating foods that contains high fats may also lad to plaque buildup. Also as a person
age, their heart and blood vessels work harder to pump and receive blood. The arteries weaken and
become less elastic, making plaque more vulnerable to buildup. Within the disease the person
develops a few signs and symptoms. Most symptoms of atherosclerosis do not show until a blockage
occurs. It is also important to know the symptoms of heart attack and stroke. Chest pain, nausea,
shortness of breath, fatigue, muscles weakness, perspiration, and confusion. In order for this disease
to be prevented the person has to change their lifestyle which include avoiding fatty foods, exercise
daily, a healthy diet, and also adding fish to your diet

Atherosclerosis Essay
Introduction
According to Heart foundation (2015) , coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in Australia,
which kills about one Australian every 12 minutes. It is known that the development of
atherosclerosis is the vital cause of coronary heart disease. It induces the accumulation of connective
tissue rudiments, lipids, cells and other elements in the coronary artery wall (Hansson, 2005). This
results in the asymmetric thickenings of the innermost layer, intima, which prevents adequate blood
flow through arteries to supply to the organs and tissues. The plaques origin early in life and can
progressively enlarge, harden and cause significant blockage(Hansson, 2005, Mathur, 2010). Else,
the plaque can rupture and create blood clots, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension have been proved to increase
oxidative stress in the vessel (Davignon and Ganz, 2004). The oxidized LDL (ox–LDL) increases
the synthesis of caveolin–1 and it inactivates endothelial NO synthase to produce NO. The free
radical superoxide anion rapidly deactivates NO and destroys tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor for NO
synthesis (Briasoulis et al., 2012). These result in inadequate blood flow into the arteries as the
smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls can no longer relax sufficiently. Therefore, the total
peripheral resistance in the arteries will increase (Hare and Stamler, 2005). Hypertension can be
caused by high intake of salt. This raises both the osmolarity and body temperature, increases
oxidative stress and causes damage to the vessel. Also, LDL and ox–LDL stimulate the production
of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inducing vascular endothelium inflammation and cause
impaired endothelial function (Briasoulis et al., 2012). Smoking results in inflammation, thrombosis
and oxidation of LDL, which increase oxidative stress in numerous cells. The reaction between NO
and superoxide anion form peroxynitrire, the latter can cause vascular dysfunction(Mathur,
2010).Both active and passive exposure to smoking are reported to increase the risk of
atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease by decreasing the

What Is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that can beginning in childhood or adolescence. Atherosclerosis
is defined as a buildup of fatty material, such as cholesterol, in the walls of blood vessels. There are
three progressive states of excess fatty material in the blood vessel walls: fatty streak, intermediate
lesion, and a fibrous lesion. A fatty streak is a line of yellow fatty material in the blood vessel wall,
and as the streak becomes larger it is then called an intermediate lesion then a fibrous lesion. A
fibrous lesion can be occlusive of non–occlusive. The occlusive lesion forms under the endothelium
of the blood vessel and grows towards the lumen of the blood vessel cause the lumen to become
smaller. A non–occlusive lesion forms under

Atherosclerosis
Disease of the arteries called atherosclerosis is medical condition characterized with accumulation
of fatty material on the internal walls of the blood vessels that has impact on the blood flow.
Medical experts warn that this medical condition is quite severe as it may lead to cardiac arrest,
brain hemorrhages or even death.
Doctors explain that the bad habits significantly worsen this issue, and some of the most common
mistakes are: eating a lot of fat, smoking, lack of physical activity, overweight, diabetes 1 or 2, high
blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. In addition to that, other things have influence are
inflammation provoked by arthritis, lupus or infections.
There are various approaches, methods, medicines and surgeries which

Atherosclerosis : A Serious Condition
Atherosclerosis can be a serious condition; it is when the arteries become clogged by fatty
substances such as plaques or atheroma. This causes arteries to become narrow and harden which
can restrict blood flow preventing organs from functioning properly (Williams 2000). (Getty Images
2015)
There are multiple things that can cause atherosclerosis; being a smoker can cause damage to the
walls of the arteries, platelets then clump together to try to repair it this will cause the arteries to
become narrow. Smoking can also prevent the blood from being able to carry oxygen around the
body which increases the chances of blood clotting. Having a higher fat diet and high cholesterol
can cause atherosclerosis because if you eat too high fatty food diet it can cause you to have high
levels of low–density lipoprotein, this carries the cholesterol from your liver to the cells that needs
it, if there is too much cholesterol the excess can build up in the artery walls which leads to fatty
deposits and over time this can partly or completely block the blood supply. Lack of exercise and
being overweight or obese will not directly affect your chances of developing atherosclerosis, but
contributes to other things that do raise the chances. They are likely to have high blood pressure,
they are likely to have high cholesterol because of their diet and more chances of developing type 2
diabetes. Having type 1 or type 2 diabetes causes excess glucose in your blood can damage the walls
in the

Atherosclerosis Case Exercise
A diagnosis of PVD indicates that there's a lack of tissue perfusion to the extremities, in this case to
the patient's feet. This lack of tissue perfusion to the feet can be caused by a type of condition where
it inhibits blood flow, which prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the extremities. Without
oxygenated blood reaching the extremities, it will cause damage to the tissue as seen with ML's right
toe. Having the ulcer on the right toe, indicates how there is lack of perfusion reaching that area.
In chronic arterial insufficiency, the arteries are affected as they can become occluded or narrowed.
By having the arteries occluded or narrowed, it will cause a decrease of blood flow. The decrease of
blood flow is caused by atherosclerosis,

Research Paper On Atherosclerosis
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States with more than 610,00
people who die every year because of the complications attached to these diseases. Not only that,
more than 735,000 people have heart attacks of different intensities ranging from slight to dangerous
and life–threatening. The main heart disease that is diagnosed among patients is known as
atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a heart disease that involves the buildup of plaque in the major arteries near the
heart which can cause a decrease in blood flow, overall affecting the entire body as a whole. This
plaque can be made up of fats, cholesterol, and/or calcium. The main issue that comes up from this
disease is the significant decrease in blood

Essay On Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the main cause of the death from heart disease. Heart is a big muscle which needs
lot of oxygen. But because of a blood clot that blocks a big coronary vessel, blood cannot flow, a
heart has not enough oxygen and develop necrosis. Many people continue to think of heart disease
as a man's disease. However:
Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women, but many women do not realize they are at risk
Heart diseases kill more women than breast cancer While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast
cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease
Every second woman will struggle with Cardiovascular Disease during their lifetime
The women death from the heart attack 2–4 times more than men death. Since 1984, more women
than men have died each ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of hypnotises tells that it's probably because of different physiology, namely because allocation
of fat that explain the plaques–clot formation and location in arteries:
When we watch men become obese his fat concentrated on the stomach, making "beer bellies"
Where do women get fat? All over! So they have probably the same pictures inside!
Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women
Heart diseases kill more women than breast cancer
Every second woman will struggle with Cardiovascular Disease during their lifetime
The women death from the heart attack 2–4 times more than men death
The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood.
Coronary micro vascular disease (MVD) – a problem that affects the heart's tiny arteries
Broken heart syndrome – extreme emotional stress leading to severe but often short–term heart
muscle failure
The symptoms in men's heart attack :
acute horrible chest pain like an "explosion" easy recognized abnormal EKG
The symptoms in women's Heart Attack
chest pain or discomfort short of breath upper back pressure pain or discomfort in one or both arms,
the back, neck,

Atherosclerosis Case Study
Two experimental systems will be used to determine if Mad1 overexpression promotes
atherosclerosis. Both sets of experiments are routinely performed in the laboratory of Dr. Lian–
Wang Guo and will be performed in collaboration with him. First, a mechanical injury model will be
used to determine if elevated levels of Mad1 promote intimal hyperplasia. To generate the
mechanical injury, mice will be anesthetized and undergo bilateral endoluminal injury to the femoral
artery by passing a 0.25 mm diameter angioplasty guidewire 3 times 56. 1 and 3 days post–injury,
protein expression will be determined by immunoblot. HA and Mad1 antibodies will be used to
measure expression and localization of endogenous and inducible Mad1. PCNA will be used as a
marker of VSMC proliferation. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
p53 levels will be examined to check if upregulated Mad1 downregulates p53 levels in vivo.
Arteries will be harvested 2 and 4 weeks after injury to assess intimal hyperplasia and expression
levels of endogenous and inducible Mad1. Mice will be sacrificed and perfused in situ with PBS
followed by freshly prepared paraformaldehyde. After decalicification, cross–sections throughout
the injured segment will be imaged with a confocal microscope using the 488 nm laser to visualize
internal and external elastic lamina autofluorescence. Intimal, medial and luminal areas will be
quantified at sections which show the external and internal elastic lamina. Previous studies have
shown that measurements from 3–5 different injured regions from 15 animals will be sufficient for
statistical

Cardiovascular Disease, Atherosclerosis Essay
One source of great mortality and morbidity in Europe and North America is the cardiovascular
disease, Atherosclerosis. It is recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease of the intermediate and
large arteries characterized by the thickening of the arterial wall and is the primary cause of
coronary and cerebrovascular heart disease (Wilson, 2005). It accounts for 4.35 million deaths in
Europe and 35% death in the UK each year. Mortality rate are generally higher in men than pre–
menopausal woman. Past the menopause, a woman's risk is similar to a man's (George and Johnston,
2010). Clinical trials have confirmed that lipid accumulation, endothelial dysfunction, cell
proliferation, inflammation matrix alteration and foam cell formation are ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Macrophage which is now foam–like accumulates on the blood vessel to form visible fatty streak
which then undergoes apoptosis. The plaque continues to grow and hardens narrowing the arteries.
This ruptures and causes a blood clot which limits the flow of oxygen–rich blood to the body
causing a heart attack, stroke or even death. Factors that are known to predispose to atherosclerosis
are physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking and hypertension which
increase the chances by two–fold by damaging the vascular endothelium. Experimental studies have
just shown that excess blood levels of iron can lead to atherosclerosis (Guyton and Hall, 2011).
2.0 Molecular and Cell–based therapies
Presently, the treatment strategies used are risk factor modification, conventional pharmacology and
surgical revascularization. These strategies have hitherto not been of enormous solution as the
disease progression still result in recurrent symptoms. This has now led to the exploitation of
advances in comprehending the vascular biology of atherogenesis to introduce novel cell and
molecular–based therapies. The application of immunomodulation, lipid–lowering agents like
statins, gene transfer, antisense technology and so on has resulted in new therapeutic strategies to
interrupt cell proliferation and disorder of the vessel wall. In this essay, immunomudulation and
lipid–lowering agent shall be discussed.
2.1 Immunomodulation

Atherosclerosis And Cigarette Smoking
Smoking is the one drug that has become one of the most influential drug known in the United
States today. Many have smoked at least once in their lives, from the time of experiencing smoking
as a teenager too experiencing smoking well into adulthood. What many are not aware of is that by
smoking, it not only endangers the smoker's life but the lives of others around. It puts the risk for
others to become exposed to second hand smoke and other forms of health problems. These health
issues explain why many are facing heart disease today. There are three types of heart disease that a
person can contract because of smoking and they are cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease,
and atherosclerosis. These three main types of heart diseases ... Show more content on
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Atherosclerosis is another branch of both cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. With
Atherosclerosis, it is most comparable to coronary heart disease because these two heart diseases
work hand and hand, plays the same roles, has the same effects on the heart, and allows plaque
substance that builds up in the heart. In this particular heart disease, however, the plaque begins to
harden in the artery pathways causing blood to flow poorly to the heart and more possible for blood
clotting (The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, n.d.). Atherosclerosis can lead to
troublesome health problems in the body for example, a person can experience anything from a
heart attack, stroke, or possibly death. Atherosclerosis disease is a preventable disease. By taking the
preventable measures, for example, eating right nutrition, making an exercising plan, and make sure
annual trips to the physicians are made, one can make heart disease more

Atherosclerosis Risk
Risk factors for heart disease cause problems because inevitably, they lead to atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is the deposition of plaques of fatty material on the inner walls of the arteries
("What Is Cardiovascular Disease?" 2014). It develops for years without causing symptoms and it
can happen in any part of the body. Around the heart, it is known as coronary artery disease because
coronary arteries feed the heart muscle itself. Coronary heart disease symptoms include angina
(dull/heavy sharp chest pain or discomfort), or pain in neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back. All
of these symptoms and risks of cardiovascular disease may be the result of high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is the macromolecule (fat/lipid) in our blood. Our bodies create all the cholesterol our
cells need, but most of the time we get cholesterol from the foods that we eat as well. ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The buildup of plaque will narrow the arteries; this makes it impossible for blood to travel through
the vessels properly. This eventually leads to dangerous blood clots and heart attacks. Additionally,
many things can affect a person's cholesterol level. This includes the foods being eaten, being
overweight, being inactive, age, and even family history. Cholesterol levels begin to rise after the
age of twenty (Pagano, 2009). By being overweight and not keeping active, an individual may lower
their HDL (good cholesterol). HDL is good cholesterol and is linked to lowering the risk of heart
disease. It helps move cholesterol out of the body. HDL achieves this by binding with cholesterol in
the bloodstream and carrying it back to the liver for disposal. LDL is bad cholesterol and is the type
to raise the risk of a heart disease. It carries mostly fat and only a small amount of protein from the
liver to other parts of the

Essay On Atherosclerosis
Oxidative Stress and inflammation in Atherosclerosis: A Brief Review
Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Arteries are
blood vessels that carry oxygen–rich blood to the heart and other parts of the body. Reactive oxygen
species are common by–products of many oxidative biochemical and physiological processes. They
can be released by NAD(P)H oxidase, nitric oxide synthase and xanthine oxidase and activates
various signaling pathways that underlie vascular inflammation in atherogenesis thus leading to
oxidative stress induced tissue injury. Therefore, it is important to consider the sources of oxidants
in the context of available antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol, β–carotene, superoxide ...
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T cells and Dendritic cells are drawn into the lumen by adhesion molecules and are incorporated
into the atheroma. Macrophages are recruited and infiltrate adipose tissue, which can result in the
release of adipokines and generation of proinflammation. Under these conditions, lipolysis can lead
to increased release of nonesterified fatty acids and possibly also to insulin resistance. The resulting
increase in oxidative stress, combined with the action of adipokines, exacerbates the vascular pro–
oxidant and proinflammatory environment, leads to smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial
dysfunction and accelerating the atherosclerotic

Atherosclerosis: Cardiovascular Disease
Atherosclerosis is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries. I chose this disease
because a few years ago my dad was having the beginning symptoms of a heart attack. We didn't
know what was wrong with him, but we thought he had acid reflux. Fortunately, we got him to go to
the emergency room before anything bad happened. My dad had atherosclerosis in several of his
arteries for his heart. Our insurance only covers the arteries that have so much blockage, so this is
not solved forever. Thus, I chose this disease to inform and learn more about it. Atherosclerosis is
when the arteries slowly harden due to a buildup of cholesterol, fatty substances, and cellular waste,
also known as plaque. Medium or large arteries can

What is Atherosclerosis Disease?Well 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.The Atherosclerosis Disease is caused by high blood pressure,smoking,or high
cholesterol.Did you know that about 360,000 people will die from the Atherosclerosis disease each
year. Nikolai N. Anichkov was the one who discovered the Atherosclerosis disease.Atherosclerosis
was discovered in 1964 by Anichkov. Like any other disease the Atherosclerosis disease has
common symptoms.Like pain in the neck,jaw,throat,upper abdomen or back.Men are more likely to
have chest pain but women are more likely to have other symptoms along with chest discomfort,
such as shortness of breath,nausea and extreme fatigue.Another symptom is weakness or coldness in
your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed.Confusion occurs if
the blockage affects circulation to your brain.Trouble speaking or understanding speech.Trouble
seeing with one or both eyes, those are the symptoms of the Atherosclerosis disease.

Atherosclerosis Formation
Atherosclerosis can be associate with atheromata'formation, which are raised, fibroadipose plaques
that develop within the intimal layer of the artery or within the innermost layers of the tunica media.
Some atheromata undergo calcification or ulceration, and mural thrombi can form over complicated
and uncomplicated atheromata. As a result, can block or diminished the blood flow in the artery,
turning tissue and organs oxygen deprived.
Lesions on the arterial wall can cause them to become weak and get into the high risk area of
dilatation and rupture. Atherosclerotic aneurysm is a disease of elderly persons, rare before age 50.
Its frequency peak is around age of 70 years. It can be seen in different shapes, fusiform, saccular
and cylindrical. The cause is usually atheroma expansion in the ... Show more content on
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The arterial stenosis is frequently mistakenly identified. Acute ischemia can also be caused by the
simultaneous development of portal hypertension or thrombosis of the Superior mesenteric vein.
Identify this disease in the beginning is difficult that's why imaging studies are very important in
these cases. As time passes it was noticed that the aorta has becoming more tortuous, especially in
women and those who are committed with hypertension. Thus, sometimes aorta can be seen
compressing the inferior vena cava. Aorta can suffer alteration in its size, commonly aortic
dilatation. Sometimes involves the full length of the vessel, including the thoracic segment, and is
associated with marked lengthening of the artery, a situation defined as dolichoectasia of the aorta.
The majority of aneurysms are infrarenal. Aneurysms involving both the supra and infrarenal
segments of the aorta have an hourglass appearance due to the local expansion–opposing effects of
the left renal vein. The aneurysm sac is composed of thrombotic formations and atheromata
(abnormal mass of lipids), which reduce the patency of the

Coronary Atherosclerosis Case Study
Introduction
According to the CDC, cardiovascular disease claims 614,348 lives in 2014 making it the leading
cause of death in the United States, accounting for 46.9% of all deaths in 2014. This percentage is
estimated to increase threefold by the end of 2016 (Heron, 2016). This is a significant issue, mainly
because, for the most part this is a preventable ailment. If not closely control, this can quickly
become an epidemic as the overall death rate increase each year. To fully understand this disease, we
need to first look at the root cause, coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease is a disorder affecting the blood vessels of the heart, generally in the form of
atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis literally means "fatty harden mush". This is formed from the ...
This exertion increases the production of catecholamines and inflammatory mediators "that causes
myocyte hypertrophy and loss of contractility function in the area of the heart distant from the
infarction" (p. 606) creating structural and functional changes in the heart. If ischemic circumstances
are not rectified within 20 minutes, then irreversible cell death occurs, thus making early
intervention imminent.
Therefore, an awareness of early warning signs is important. The first symptom of a myocardial
infarction is severe and prolonged chest pain that may radiate up into the neck and/or jaw as well as
down the shoulders, back or left arm. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, weakness,
severe fatigue and dyspnea. It is important to note that diabetic patients and the elderly may have no
pain, "thereby having a silent infarction" (p.607). Another important group to take note of are
women as they often have atypical signs of a myocardial infarction and as such are often under
noticed and undiagnosed.
Protective and predictive factors related to the disease

Cardiovascular Disease: Atherosclerosis and Hypertension
Cardiovascular Disease also known as coronary heart disease encompasses diseases of the heart and
blood vessels. The two most common forms of cardiovascular disease are atherosclerosis and
hypertension (chronic high blood pressure). Both of these conditions involve the damage of blood
vessels. Hypertension and atherosclerosis paired equal the greatest threat to the development of
heart disease and ultimately death (Missoula County, 2004).
Atherosclerosis means "hardening of the arteries"; this is caused by a build up of cholesterol and
other fatty substance within the walls of the arteries. In atherosclerosis, fatty deposits called plaque,
build up on the inner wall of the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits usually develop over ...
Cigarette smoking is a factor contributing to hypertension. Tobacco, which is smokeless, is also
linked to hypertension via its nicotine and sodium content. In many instances, stress is a causative
factor of high blood pressure. Relaxation techniques have some value in lowering blood pressure.
Exercise reduces both blood pressure and stress.
Some other factors with an unfavorable outcome in hypertension are: gender, untreated persistent
high diastolic blood pressure, advancing age, smoking, diabetes, other associated chronic illnesses,
and elevated blood cholesterol levels. Your risk for developing high blood pressure is high if you are
an African American. African Americans may get it earlier in life and more often than White
Americans. In addition, your risks for getting high blood pressure increases as you grow older
(Jacob, 2004). High Blood pressure is very common; more than 50 million American adults have
high blood pressure or hypertension that is one–forth of the adult population. That translate into,
roughly one in every four American adult has some form of high blood pressure or they have
hypertension. The segments of the population most affected by high blood pressure are males,
diabetics, elderly persons, people of Hispanic origin, and people living in the southern regions of the
United States. In addition, those persons with associated chronic illnesses such as emphysema;
chronic stress syndrome, diabetes and similar illness are also in

Research Paper On Atherosclerosis
Introduction Atherosclerosis is the other name for arteriosclerosis, which means arterial hardness.
Arteries carry blood from the heart to the other parts of the body. Healthy arteries are flexible,
sufficiently elastic and strong. Arterial stiffness is common in everyone as they age, which can lead
to restriction of blood flow to the vital organs. This decrease in blood flow might result in heart
attack and stroke. This article discusses various strong and good scientific evidences of dietary
supplements used for preventing and treating Atherosclerosis. Accumulation of fat, LDL–cholesterol
and calcium in the arterial walls leads to Atherosclerosis. The accumulated plaque might block the
flow of blood in the artery leading to the loss of blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs. The
blocking of blood flow by the clot results in deep vein thrombosis in the legs and pulmonary
embolism in lungs. Clots mostly create problems in brain, heart and legs, although they can be seen
in any part of the body. The reduction in the oxygen supply to the body parts also happens ... Show
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Endothelium will naturally harden as one ages, although certain factors can fasten the process.
Damage in this layer due to high levels of free radicals and low levels of antioxidants, can trigger
the plaque formation. Damage of endothelium occurs due to the intake of high cholesterol diet and
tobacco and high blood pressure resulting in worsening of Atherosclerosis. Endothelial damage
leads to inflammation, causing plaque formation. Atherosclerosis further leads to a condition called
Peripheral artery disease. Progression of Atherosclerosis can be prevented by following a healthy
lifestyle, by avoiding some risk factors, by taking some medications and through a possible surgery.
Scientific evidences that clearly explained about certain dietary elements beneficial in the
prevention and treatment of Atherosclerosis are described

Chapter 1
Introduction
History and background
Atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the thickening and
hardening of arteries. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a pathological situation in
which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Plaque is usually made of cholesterol, fatty substances,
cellular products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood). Atherosclerosis is the leading
cause of mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD) around the world. The
magnitude of this problem is so high that atherosclerosis claims more lives than all types of cancer
combined and the financial burden are considerable1. It a complex, chronic pathological ... Show
Many of the vaso–protective function of endothelium is provide by the Nitric
Oxide(NO)20.Endothelium damaged by turbulent or non–laminar blood causes decreased
production of NO.Such kind of blood flow also stimulates endothelial cells to produce adhesion
molecules, which recruit and bind inflammatory cells. Hypercholesterolemia seems to inactivate the
normal function of NO. The net effect is endothelial binding of monocytes and T cells, migration of
these cells to the subendothelial space, and initiation of a local vascular inflammatory response.
Lipids in the blood, particularly low–density lipoprotein (LDL) and very–low–density lipoprotein
(VLDL), also bind to endothelial cells. 18Firstly LDL is transported across the healthy intima and
become trapped in intima of a vessel wall.It undergoes oxidative modification and then oxidized
LDL(OxLDL) is formed5.OxLDL is mighty inducer of inflammatory molecules.It adds up to the
inflamotory signaling by endothelium that activates chemotactic substances, growth factors that
attracts monocytes to vessel wall21Eventually OxLDL transforms monocytes into macrophages
which makes the Forms cells, which are the hallmark of atherosclerosis. Oxidized LDL impair the
signal transduction between endothelial cell surface receptors and NO production, inhibit NO
synthase activity and inactivates NO realese from endothelial cells.22.Once the endothelium is
impaired, oxidized LDL is stored in vascular endothelium and by the process of series of
mechanism, foam cells are formed and then eventually fatty plaque that occludes the vessel along
with the decreased amount of NO which decreases the ability of the vessel to dilate. As the plaque
grows arterial wall narrowing and thickening occurs5. This plaque and narrowing of vessel results in
decreased blood flow

Literature Review On Atherosclerosis
Literature Review Draft
Atherosclerosis is characterised by gradual decrease in the luminal diameter of large arteries, it has
major health implications and contributes to around 50% of all deaths within westernized countries
(7). Patients can undergo coronary artery stenting to prolong the effects of this. Treatments for this
have undergone major developments over the past 40 years, including balloon angioplasty in 1977,
development of bare–metal stents (BMS) in the 1980's, introduction of drug–eluting stents (DES) in
2000 (43) and current research into incorporating NO donors into stents. The first stent implantation
performed on a human was conducted in 1986 (13), since then they have become one of the most
common ways of intervention due to atherosclerosis. In the US there are 500,000 people who
undergo stenting annually (42). The success of stenting is inhibited by the reoccurrence of
restenosis. Multiple things can affect the rate of in–stent restenosis, elevated LDL levels, increased
levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor I, type 2 diabetes and enhanced platelet aggergability (10).
Therefore the severity of restenosis will differ between patients.
Nobuyoshi et al, (1) and Serruys et al (2) found that restenosis is not an instantaneous development
after stent implantation, it develops between the 1st and 3rd month after implantation, although the
greatest change in luminal diameter occurred between the 2nd and 3rd month. These studies suggest
that restenosis is

Taking a Look at Atherosclerosis Essay
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty materials and plaque buildup on the inner lining of
arteries. Arteries are blood vessels which carry rich blood to the heart and throughout the body.
They're lined by the endothelium, a thin layer of cells. The endothelium keeps blood flowing by
keeping the inside of arteries smooth. However, when Atherosclerosis starts due to high blood
pressure, smoking, or high cholesterol, it damages the endothelium. Atherosclerosis tends to happen
throughout the body and arises when people grow older. This disease is mainly due to the deposition
of fatty materials i.e., cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood. The buildup of
fat then hardens causing narrowing of the arteries. This ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The second most common example of CVD is carotid artery disease, which affects the carotid
arteries. The carotid arteries supply blood to your brain where you can have the symptom of a
stroke. These symptoms may include; sudden weakness, confusion, trouble speaking or
understanding speech, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, loss of consciousness and many more.
Atherosclerosis is almost worldwide. Although it is hard to estimate how common atherosclerosis is,
almost all adults have various parts of the illness. Cardiovascular disease is the single most common
cause of illness and death in the developed country accounting for one in three of all deaths! Heart
attacks due to coronary artery disease and strokes due to carotid artery disease are responsible for
more deaths than all other causes combined. According to statics more than 80,000 people with
cardiovascular disease died in 2005, making it the No.1 killer in America. Not only that, but each
year in England and Wales, an estimated 124,000 deaths are caused by CVD, where about 39,000 of
them occur in people under the age of 75. Due to the continuing obesity prevalent, it is predicted
that atherosclerosis will continue to be a major health problem in this country. Treating
Arteriosclerosis includes lifestyle changes, for some people these changes may be the only treatment
necessary. The other treatment to cure atherosclerosis is by taking medication. With both of these
treatments' plaque caused by

The Cardiovascular System Of Atherosclerosis
The cardiovascular system is composed of thousands of tubes, known as blood vessels that blood
travels in. Blood is constantly being pumped to and from the heart through arteries and veins,
respectively. Oxygen, nutrients, water, wastes are just some of the substances moving throughout the
body via the blood vessels. Because this system is very complex, many issues can occur which
inhibit the cardiovascular system from doing its job. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a category of
diseases that relate to the heart and blood vessels. The most common form of CVD is coronary heart
disease and involves the buildup plaque in the arteries, namely the coronary arteries. This occurs
when cholesterol, cellular waste, and other types of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Proteins form over the platelets called fibrin that make the blood clot and stick the platelets together.
When this process gets repeated it can cause a clot, or thrombus. As a result, this forces the heart to
work much harder to pump blood efficiently due to the arteries becoming narrower. Continued
buildup of plaque can lead to heart disease and cause a heart attack as well as many other health
complications. There are many known risk factors that have been shown to correlate with heart
disease. High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of physical activity, and obesity, are all risk
factors that correlation to and increase risk of CVD. Fortunately, all of these risk factors can be
managed and controlled through a variety of ways. Although CVD is mostly preventable,
cardiovascular disease remains as one of the leading causes of death in the United States (Erhardt,
2009).
Risk Factors There are many risk factors associated with CVD and they are divided into two
categories. The first is uncontrollable risk factors, which includes sex, age, family history, and race.
These factors cannot be changed or managed. The other category is controllable risk factors that
fortunately can be improve through lifestyle changes in order to reduce the risk of CVD.
Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure (HBP), is a risk factor of CVD that has been well
established (Gu, 2008; Qiuping, 2008). When measuring blood

have been directly linked to lupus, but I chose these cardiovascular diseases to highlight.
Athersclerosis is the accumulation of cholesterol and other substances along the inner linings of
arteries. This hardened plaque can eventually restrict the blood flow to various parts of the body
including the heart and brain. But lupus increases the chances of heart attacks associated with
atherosclerosis 7 to 9 times. Pericarditis occurs in 25% of people with SLE (Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus) It is the swelling and irritation of the pericardium which surrounds the heart.
When this thin membrane becomes irritated, it leaks fluid around the heart. A third, but certainly
not the last is Endocarditis. In this condition, there is a development

Atherosclerosis Case Study Essay
In the case of an individual needing to abide by a heart healthy nutrition plan, they would be
suffering from some form of heart disease. Two of the most common types of heart disease are
Ischemic heart disease and Inflammatory heart disease. In the case of Ischemic heart disease, this is
a heart ailment caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries thus resulting in a decreased blood
supply to the heart. Inflammatory heart disease on the other hand is a rather broad term and can be
used to categorize several heart conditions including Atherosclerosis. An individual who suffers
from Atherosclerosis can expect the the walls of their arteries to become thick and stiff because of
the buildup of fatty deposits called plaques. When this occurs, the flow of blood is restricted.
Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body, for example, in the arteries of the heart it is known
as Coronary artery disease and in the legs it is referred to as Peripheral arterial disease. It is essential
that those suffering from heart disease follow a specific diet however, if they refuse to be cautious,
they are highly susceptible to developing several life threatening complications. One example
includes heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot adequately pump blood throughout the
body. This can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, and the buildup of fluid in the body,
causing ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These are mainly subjected to the type of underlying heart disease, the person's reaction to certain
medications, and the extent and severity of the impairment. Heart disease is considered to be a
chronic condition, and there can be complications following periods of medication–induced
improvement. However, people with heart disease can better overcome their conditions as new
medications and treatment options are being developed, and by abiding by specific diets such as a
heart healthy meal

Common Carotid Atherosclerosis Model
We sum up that the IPB–1+CO diet could induce similar characteristic in body measurement and
plasma lipid profiles with western atherogenic diet and suggested that responsiveness could be a
good sign to choose the individual monkeys as an atherosclerosis model with any atherogenic diet,
included IPB–1+CO. If there was no increase of TPC at the first 3 months of feeding, the monkeys
might not produce a hypercholesterolemia, although for long term feeding, and might not form the
plaques in the arteries.
4.2. Ultrasound scanning
Imaging of arteries will become increasingly useful, justified, and available to determine
atherosclerosis condition [14] (Ibanez 2009). The goal of imaging is similar to that for examination
of plaque by pathological techniques. In clinical trials, the measurement of atherosclerosis most
frequently defined in carotid artery [33] (Tang et al. 2000). Our present study proved that 1 year
feeding with IPB–1+CO ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The IMT of common carotid artery was usually measured because of its easier accessibility and
perpendicular location to the ultrasound beam, whereas carotid atherosclerosis predominantly occurs
earliest downstream in the bulb (and often only in the bulb), which may not be as easily visible with
B–mode ultrasound [34] (Finn et al. 2010). The standard value of common carotid IMT that indicate
the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in animal model M. fascicularis have not been mentioned
before. From all the parameters (size, shape, echogenicity and homogeneity changes), we
determined that plaque in cynomolgus in this study was presented at the IMT at least 0,3 mm. In
human, normal common carotid IMT has been established arbitrarily as approximately 0.05 to 0.11
cm; thus, values 0.11 cm are considered to indicate the presence of an atherosclerotic plaque and its
correlates linearly with the number of atherosclerotic risk factors like hyperlipidemia [35]
(Baldassarre et al.

What are some types of heart and blood vessel diseases? HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES, or
atherosclerosis, is when the inner walls of arteries become narrower due to a buildup of plaque
(usually caused by a diet high in fat, cigarette smoking, diabetes or hypertension). This limits the
flow of blood to the heart and brain. Sometimes, this plaque can break open. When this happens, a
blood clot forms and blocks the artery. This can cause heart attacks and strokes. HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE, also called hypertension, means the pressure in your arteries is consistently above the
normal range. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It's written as
two numbers, such as 122/78 mm Hg. The top number (systolic) is the pressure ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
STROKE and TIA happen when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked or bursts. Then that
part of the brain can't work and neither can the part of the body it controls. Major risk factors for
stroke include: High blood pressure Smoking Diabetes High cholesterol Heart disease Atrial
fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) Call 9–1–1 to get help fast if you have any of these warning
signs of stroke and TIA: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one
side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one
or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden, severe
headache with no known cause Take a few minutes to write your questions for the next time you see
your healthcare provider. For example: Talk to your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professionals.
If you have heart disease or have had a stroke, members of your family also may be at higher risk.
It's very important for them to make changes now to lower their risk. Call 1–800–AHA–USA1 (1–
800–242–8721), or visit heart.org to learn more about heart

Carotid Atherosclerosis Research Paper
Haemodynamics of large vessels by Phase Contrast MRI
Cardiovascular diseases
The cardiovascular system is the network of blood vessels with the major role in transportation of
oxygen and nutrition to the tissues and the waste products from organs and tissues. The diseases of
the cardiovascular system, either acquired or congenital, may result in ischemia or undersupply of
major organs, which would be a threat to the overall health of an individual. Events caused by
cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite
improvements in the treatment and the preventive strategies of cardiovascular diseases, the social
and economic burdens due to these diseases continue to grow. Further efforts, therefore, ... Show
Congenital heart disease occurs in approximately 1% of newborns and nearly 10% of these
malformations belong to the group of univerntricular heart [Ref]. In patients with univentricular
heart, the functioning ventricle receives the flow of both pulmonary and systemic circulation which
causes a volume overload in the ventricle and reduces the functional ability of heart. In early 70's,
Fontan and Baudet introduced a palliative surgical technique aiming at reducing overload of heart in
patients with tricuspid atresia by separating systemic and pulmonary venous return. Since the
original technique was firstly introduced, it has been adapted greatly and applied to the patients with
univentricular heart. Currently, the infants with univentricular heart undergo multiple consecutive
operations with the final surgical operation creating so called Fontan circulation. The Fontan
circulation separates systemic and pulmonary venous return by creating a direction connection
between caval veins and pulmonary arteries. Two surgical approaches, which are called intracardiac
lateral tunnel (ILT) [Ref] and extracardiac conduit (ECC) [Ref], are favoured to create Fontan
circulation. ILT approach involves placement of an intraatrial baffle (figure 2a) while ECC approach
creates anastomosis between pulmonary arteries and inferior caval vein

Percutaneous Coronary Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a disease where fatty deposits obstruct the inside of arteries. Arteries are blood
vessels that transport blood rich in oxygen to the heart and other parts of the human body. The execs
of plaque harden and narrow the arteries. This limits the flow of blood rich in oxygen to the organs
and other parts of the human body. Atherosclerosis can lead to more serious problems, such as a
heart attack, stroke, or even death. Medical procedures and surgery are recommended in severe
cases atherosclerosis.
Percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as coronary angioplasty, is a procedure can be used
to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries in the heart. Percutaneous coronary intervention can
increase better blood flow to the

Atherosclerosis Case
Based on the common law duty of confidentiality (DOH, 2012) and recognizing peoples right to
privacy and confidentiality (NMC, 2016) my patient discussed here will be addressed as MR BOB.
Cardiac arrest is a grave medical emergency where the heart stops pumping blood throughout the
body and can lead to death in minutes. There are currently 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrest in
UK (Perkins, 2016). In coronary artery disease there is a obstruction in the arteries that supply blood
and oxygen to the heart. The initial step in coronary artery disease (CAD) is the formation of
atherosclerosis. The build up of plaque is called atherosclerosis. CAD is a progressive disease that
most commonly presents as angina. The beginning of CAD is thought ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The development of an atherosclerotic plaque is relatively a very a complicated process where
Plaque rupture accounts for about 76% of fatality lead by thrombi. The evolution of atherosclerosis
begins with foam cell accumulation where the macrophages accumulate within arterial wall intima,
progresses to form fatty streak where further accumulation of intra and extracellular lipids, this is a
potentially reversible stage (Greenland p, 2013) further atheroma/fibroatheroma forms where
cholesterol and phospholipids accumulate intramurally. This is a vulnerable state as it is predisposed
to spontaneous rupture by inflammation and thrombus deposition may occur. Hemodynamic
changes during this stage may cause ischemia or silent infarction, if large plaque rupture total
occlusion may cause myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death. Finally a complex lesion can
develop where fibro muscular tissue can be seen with repair efforts followed by repeated plaque
formation, this may slowly increase in size and produce significant arterial narrowing.
Coronary arteries undergo a compensatory mechanism in relation to the area of the elastic lamina,
which is involved with plaque this is known as adaptive or positive remodelling where it preserves
the artery until 40% of the lesion is occupied, thus stenosis may not be clinically evident and can be
asymptomatic. Positive

Atherosclerosis: Coronary Heart Disease
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of coronary heart disease, the number one killer of Americans
(). The inflammatory process is known to lead to a myriad of other cardiovascular complications
including, coronary heart disease, stroke and myocardial infarctions. It is important
The objective of the circulatory system is to transport blood throughout the human body through a
series of interconnected blood vessels. Major components of this system include the heart, blood and
blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries). Furthermore, in the pulmonary circuit, the heart works
in tandem with the lungs to oxygenate returning venous blood in preparation for distribution
throughout the body via the arteries. In the systematic circuit, blood ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Blockages cause arteries to narrow and weaken resulting in inadequate blood flow to bodily tissue,
which can harm major organs that receive depleted oxygen and nutrient supplies. Plaque is
surrounded by a fibrous capsule that may break with increased blood flow or narrowing arteries.
Immune cells trying to repair the arterial wall may result in a blot clot that seals the area. Such
repairs can cause major blockages in the coronary artery supplying the heart resulting in cardiac
arrest. Blockages can occur in any region of the body including the major extremities, the heart and
the brain. Restricted blood flow to the heart is known as coronary artery disease and affects the
blood supply to the heart muscle, resulting in Cardiac Ischemia; characterized by decreased blood
flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. These conditions similarly affect the brain in carotid artery
disease and the limbs and lower body in peripheral artery disease. While cholesterol reduces the
flexibility of the vessels high blood pressure can cause thinning of arterial walls due to friction and
abrasions, creating weak areas. With aging it takes more effort for the circulatory system to transport
blood causing arteries to become weak, encouraging plaque build up in combination with high fat

Atherosclerosis: Coronary Artery Disease
Atherosclerosis: (Hardening & Narrowing of arteries): It is the cause of coronary artery disease in
which the walls of the coronary arteries thicken due to accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels.
Causes: Damage to the endothelium (keeps the inside of the arteries toned and smooth to keep blood
flowing) caused by high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol that leads to formation of plaque
as endothelium is damaged. When cholesterol covers the damaged endothelium, cholesterol enters
wall of artery. Plaque is a jumble of cholesterol, cells, debris that creates a coating on the artery
surface Worst case scenario may be fatal.
Pathophysiology: Insides of Blood vessels are surrounded with cells called endothelium.
Endothelium is a semi

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arterial wall that is characterized by the thickening of the
arterial inner lining. These thickenings are often called atherosclerotic lesions or atheromas. Caused
by the accumulation of cholesterol–rich lipids, lipid oxidation and inflammatory response, these
atherosclerotic lesions are said to originate from fatty streaks in childhood. These fatty streaks result
from an excess of lipid concentrations in the intima. Immune processes are involved in the
development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Healthy endothelial cells release nitric oxide
to stimulate vasodilation, avoid microphage infiltration, and to slow the increase of vascular smooth
muscle cells. These mechanisms help protect against ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Injury to the endothelial cells will then decrease production of NO and this will enable the
accumulation of lipids. As the build–up progress and permeability decreases, macrophages
infiltration and release of pro–inflammatory cytokines occur. The damage caused by oxidation
causes a compensatory response which increases the endothelial adhesiveness to leukocytes and
platelets via cell adhesion molecule upregulation. Circulating monocytes and leukocytes initially
bind cell adhesion molecules on the endothelial surface, but chemokines are required for recruitment
into the subendothelial space. Once monocytes enter the subendothelial space, they may mature into
macrophages leading to formation of foam cells and then eventually to the appearance of "fatty
streaks" in the arteries. As lesion severity progresses into a fibroatheroma, macrophages, T–cells and
mast cells penetrate the cap edges and stimulate the production and movement of vascular smooth
muscle cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells contribute to plaque growth through producing pro–
inflammatory cytokines that attract and activate leukocytes, generate VSMC proliferation, express
adhesion molecules that

Vascular Lymphatic System And Atherosclerosis
Vascular Lymphatic System/Atherosclerosis
Jazmin Fontan
Bryant & Stratton College
AHLT120: Anatomy and Physiology–1
Dr. Pamela K. Hannaman, MS, ND, CPC, CMRS, CCMA
November 18, 2015
Narrowing and hardening of the artery walls causing buildup of fatty tissues (plaque), cholesterol
and other substances, which may restrict blood flow is referred to as atherosclerosis. Having
restriction of blood flow develops damage to a patients' organs and also increases the risk of heart
attacks, blood clots, and strokes overtime (WebMD, 2015). It is said to be the most common form of
arteriosclerosis that forms small patches and arterial spasms. The plaque also known as atheroma,
builds up and may cause the blood clots to burst. Atherosclerosis is considered to be a heart
condition, but may also affect arteries in any part of the body and could be prevented and treated
(Mayo Clinic, 2015). The arteries in the body are blood vessels that transport blood from the heart
and through the body. Endothelium, which is a thin layer of cells that lines the arteries to help keep
the inside of the arteries smooth and toned allowing normal blood flow. The disruption that leads to
atherosclerosis begins when an individual smokes, and has either high blood pressure or high
cholesterol; in which begins to form atheroma. When the endothelium is damaged it causes it to
become invasive allowing bad cholesterol or LDL to enter the artery walls. In return, causing the
white blood

Atherosclerosis: the Silent Killer Essay
Atherosclerosis: The Silent Killer
Atherosclerosis is one of a group of health problems that define coronary artery disease, oftentimes
referred to as heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart disease in the United States.
The following is the definition provided by the American Heart Association:
Atherosclerosis (ath"er–o–skleh–RO'sis) comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or
paste) and sclerosis (hardness). It's the name of the process in which deposits of fatty substances,
cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an
artery. This buildup is called plaque. It usually affects large and medium–sized arteries. Some
hardening of arteries often occurs ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
How does smoking cause heart disease, or arteriosclerosis? Smoking causes heart disease by
creating several dangerous conditions, both short term and long term:
The role of smoking in Coronary Heart Disease: Inhaling tobacco smoke causes several immediate
responses within the heart and its blood vessels. Within one minute of starting to smoke, the heart
rate begins to rise: it may increase by as much as 30 percent during the first 10 minutes of smoking.
Nicotine raises blood pressure: blood vessels constrict which forces the heart to work harder to
deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. Meanwhile, carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke exerts a
negative effect on the heart by reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen (ASH, 2004).
Smoking and arterial disease: Smoking tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the
ratio of high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) to low–density lipoprotein
cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) tends to be lower in smokers compared to non–smokers. Smoking
also raises the levels of fibrinogen (a protein which causes blood to clot) and increases platelet
production (also involved in the formation of blood clots) which makes the blood stickier. Carbon
monoxide attaches itself to hemoglobin (the oxygen–carrying pigment in red blood cells) much
more easily than oxygen does. This

Macrophages: Atherosclerosis In The Human Body
cells that need for its proper function.
If our body produces more LDL than the requirement which is needed for the function of the cells, it
builds up in our blood. This increase in LDL levels in the blood stream leads to process called
atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the blood vessels are hardened.
Our blood vessels have a tough outer layer called tunica adventitia which protects artery. It is
composed of a smooth layer called tunica intima which helps the flow of blood inside the blood
vessels and a Muscular elastic layer called tunica media which helps to circulate blood around the
body. When the LDL level is increased in blood it will deposit in the walls of blood vessels. Over
time these fatty materials buildup over the smooth lining of the blood vessels. ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The body defends against invasion of LDL in the walls of artery by activating specialized cells that
can consume the LDL called macrophages. LDLs aggregate within the blood vessels and oxidized
by oxygen free radicals which is generated by endothelial cells or the macrophages. The oxidized
LDLs are engulfed by macrophage by endocytosis. These LDL accumulated macrophages will form
a foamy appearance called foam cells. Fatty streaks of athroma are formed by foam cells in arteries.
A fibrous capsule called plaque is formed around the fatty streaks to protect the artery (Fig 4). Foam
cells are actually not dangerous. But, if these foam cells accumulate at a particular foci creating
necrotic centre of

Why Is Atherosclerosis Important

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