Arteriosclerosis

Overview

Arteriosclerosis is caused by the interplay of many risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. Arteriosclerosis is caused when the walls of the arteries become hard due to the build-up of fatty deposits. Common consequences include coronary heart disease or a stroke, for example. A healthy lifestyle can prevent or slow down the progression of the disease.

Symptoms

• Usually no symptoms for many years or decades
• Gradual progression
  • Symptoms depend on the affected blood vessel
  • Stress-induced pain
  • Increasing functional impairment
• Acute (emergency)
  • Pain while resting (in particular chest pain)
  • Functional impairment (e.g. paralysis due to a stroke)

Possible consequences of arteriosclerosis (list is not exhaustive)

• Heart: coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, heart attack
• Narrowing of brain arteries: memory disorders, dementia, stroke
• Narrowing of kidney arteries: high blood pressure, risk of kidney damage
• Aneurysm: dilation of blood vessels and risk of tearing – in particular the aorta and cerebral blood vessels
• Peripheral arterial disease (smoker's leg, intermittent claudication)
  • Narrowing/occlusion of a leg artery
  • Typically, pain in the calf when walking, later constant pain
  • Numb and cool leg

Causes and treatment

Cause

• Hardening (calcification) of artery walls due to the build-up of fatty deposits
• Tendency for vessels to be blocked by blood clots (thrombosis)
• Process starts during middle age

Risk factors (for cardiovascular diseases)

• Several risk factors combined lead to a corresponding increase in risk
• Can't be influenced
  • First-degree relatives suffer from cardiovascular diseases
  • Advancing age
  • Gender: men more often than women
• Can be influenced
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood fat levels (LDL cholesterol, triglycerides)
  • Obesity, unhealthy diet
  • Diabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Lack of exercise, smoking and persistent stress

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Physical examination (taking of pulse, listening to the blood vessels, etc.)
• Blood test (in particular blood fats)
• Ultrasound of the blood vessels
• ECG (electrocardiogram)stress test

Possible therapies

• Medication
  • To reduce the clotting ability of the blood
  • To reduce blood fats, blood sugar and blood pressure
• Procedures
  • Balloon dilation of arteries, stent
  • Operation (bypass, vascular prosthesis)

What can I do myself?

A healthy, risk-adjusted lifestyle can prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. This includes reducing the cardiovascular risk factors:

• Stop smoking (most effective individual measure)
• Low-fat, vitamin-rich and high-fibre diet
• Sufficient exercise (in consultation with a doctor)
• Normal weight (maintain or aim for)
• Regular relaxation, strategies for managing stress
• Take medication (e.g. for diabetes and high blood pressure) conscientiously

When to see a doctor?

• Sudden chest tightness and chest pain
• Sudden back/lumbar pain
• Worsening of usual symptoms
• Sudden signs of paralysis
• White, cold and numb leg
• Skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath
• Nausea, cold sweat, sudden dizziness
• Confusion, memory loss
• Loss of consciousness

Further information

Schweizerische Herzstiftung (Swiss Heart Foundation)
www.swissheart.ch

Synonyms

arteriosclerosis, arterial calcification, atherosclerosis