This document discusses atherosclerosis, including its definition, causes, stages of progression, symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatment, and management. Atherosclerosis is a disease where plaque builds up in the arteries due to conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. It progresses through stages from fatty streaks to atheroma formation to atherosclerotic plaques. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, and leg cramps. Diagnostic tests include angiography, CT scans, and echocardiograms. Treatment involves lifestyle changes and medications to control risk factors and slow the progression, while surgical procedures like angioplasty can be used to open blocked arteries. Nurses play an important role in

1. ATHEROSCLEROSIS
MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING

2. AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 DEFINITION
 ETIOLOGY
 STAGES
 CLINICAL
MENIFESTATION
 DIAGNOSTIC TEST
 TREATMENT
 MANAGEMENT
• MEDICAL
MANAGEMENT
• SURGICAL
MANAGEMENT

3. INTRODUCTION
• ATHEROSCLEROSIS also
called arteriosclerosis.
• It is a disease in which plaque
builds up inside your arteries.
• Plaque is a sticky substance
made up of cholesterol,
calcium, and other
substances found n the blood.
• Overtime, plaque hardens
and narrows your arteries that
limits the flow of oxygen rich
blood to your body.
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4. DEFINITION
• Also called atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease.
• The build up of fats, cholesterol
and other substances in and on the
artery walls.
• A build up of cholesterol plaque in
the walls of arteries, causing
obstruction of blood flow. Plaques
may rupture , causing acute
occlusion of the artery by clot.
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5. etiology
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• High triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in the blood.
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Diabetes
• Insulin resistance
• Obesity
• Inflammation from an unknown cause or from diseases
such as arthritis or inflammatory bowel diseases.
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6. FATTY STREAKS
FORMATION
o Fatty streaks are
the first signs of
atherosclerosis
that are visible
without
magnification.
o They consist of
lipid containing
form cells in the
arterial wall just
beneath the
ATHEROMA FORMATION
o An atheroma (plaque)
is a fatty material that
builds up inside your
arteries.
o Its made up of
cholesterol, proteins
and other substances
that circulate in your
blood.
o Atheromas grow over
time and may lead to
coronary artery
disease , peripheral
artery disease, heart
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STAGES OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS
ATHEROSCLEROTIC
PLAQUES FORMATION
o Plaques is made
up of deposits of
fatty substances,
cholesterol,
cellular waste
products, calcium
, and fibrin.
o As it builds up in
the arteries , the
arterial walls
become thickened
and stiff.

7. Stages of atherosclerosis
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9. Signs and symptoms
• Pain – can be on the chest (if
coronary artery is affected)
• Shortness of breath,
dyspnea.
• Tachycardia
• Hypertension
• Tachypnea
• Fatigue
• Weakness
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10. 20XX presentation title 10
Warning signs of atherosclerosis
• Chest discomfort during exercise or
emotional stress.
• Leg cramps when walking.
• Shortness of breath with light
activity.
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Diagnostic tests
• ANGIOGRAPHY uses special x-rays to locate and measure
blockages.
• BRACHIAL INDEX compares the blood pressure in you ankle to
the pressure in your arm to measure blood flow in your arms
and legs.
• CHEST X RAY takes pictures inside your chest.
• CT SCAN takes pictures inside of your body and can show any
hardening and narrowing of your large arteries.
• ECHOCARDIOGRAM (ECHO) takes pictures of your heart
valves and chambers and measures how well your heart is
pumping.
• ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (EKG) measures your heart electrical
activity, rate and rhythm.

12. Specialists need to see for
atherosclerois
CARDIOLOGIST NEPHROLOGIST NEUROLOGIST
VASCULAR
SURGEON
Specializes in heart Specializes in kidneys Specializes in
nervous system (
brain and spine)
Specializes in blood
vessels
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under CC BY-NC-ND
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under CC BY-SA-NCneurologist
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under CC BY-SA

13. TREATMENT
• Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet
and exercising , may be all that is needed to
treat atherosclerosis.
• But sometimes, medications or surgical
procedures may be needed..
• Many different drugs are also available to slow
-or even reverse-the effects of atherosclerosis.
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14. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
• STATINS are commonly used to lower
cholesterol , improve artery health and
prevent atherosclerosis.
• There are many other types of
cholesterol- lowering dugs.
• They include niacin, fibrates and
bile acid sequestrants.
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15. Surgical management
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ,
also known as coronary angioplasty.
• It is a procedure that is used to open blocked
or narrowed coronary ( heart ) arteries.
• PCI can improve blood flow to the heart
and relieve chest pain.
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16. Nursing management
• Nurses should educate patients about the
effect of smoking on the arterial system.
• Encourage adherence of cholesterol lowering
medications and other medications.
• Recommend follow up of patients on stains to
monitor required lowering cholesterol.
• Accompany any prescription of medication
with dietary control.
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17. THANK YOU…
BY : DIKSHA
22BNG10094