Arteriosclerosis is a disease

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on November 22, 2024
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Arteriosclerosis is a disease characterized by thickening of the arterial wall and narrowing of the arterial lumen due to plaque formation, leading to various problems. As for whether arteriosclerosis can be prevented and treated, the answer is definitely yes. This can be achieved by maintaining good lifestyle habits. Regular exercise, quitting smoking, and controlling blood pressure and blood sugar with medications under a doctor’s guidance, as well as appropriate use of statin medications, can effectively prevent and treat the onset, progression, and worsening of arteriosclerosis.

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Treatment of Arteriosclerosis

The treatment of arteriosclerosis includes general preventative measures, pharmacological treatment, interventional procedures, and surgical operations. General precautions involve a balanced diet, with some patients needing to lose weight, increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, and adopting a low-fat diet. Additionally, it is advised that patients engage in appropriate physical labor and sports activities, while also maintaining an optimistic and calm mindset. Pharmacological treatment is quite specialized, mainly including lipid-lowering and antiplatelet therapies. Then, there are cases with clear symptoms, such as renal artery stenosis or coronary artery narrowing, where interventional treatments can be considered. For those unsuitable for interventional procedures, surgical treatments, such as bypass surgery, might be considered.

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Arteriosclerosis is divided into several stages.

Arterial atherosclerosis sequentially manifests as three major types: lipid spots and stripes, atheromatous and fibrous atheromatous plaques, and complex lesions. According to the process of its occurrence and development, it can be subdivided into six types. The first type is lipid spots, which are small yellow spots on the arterial intima that gradually develop into the second type, lipid stripes, where some yellow stripes appear on the arterial intima. Then there is the third type, pre-lesional plaque, where more lipid droplets appear extracellularly. The fourth type is the atheromatous plaque, where lipids accumulate excessively and form lipid pools, and the intimal structure will be damaged. The fifth type is the fibrous atheromatous plaque, which is the most characteristic lesion of arterial atherosclerosis. The sixth type is a complex lesion, representing a severe condition.

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The difference between arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are two different concepts. Arteriosclerosis is a type of vascular disease within arteriosclerosis, but atherosclerosis is more commonly significant clinically. Hence, it is customarily referred to simply as arteriosclerosis, generally implying atherosclerosis. The causes of arteriosclerosis are numerous, but they share common characteristics including thickening, hardening, loss of elasticity, and narrowing of the arterial walls. Atherosclerosis is characterized by lesions starting in the innermost layer of the artery, involving local accumulation of lipids, complex carbohydrates, fibrous tissue proliferation, and calcification forming plaques, along with a gradual degeneration of the innermost layer. The lipid accumulation gives the inner layer a yellowish, porridge-like appearance, hence the name atherosclerosis.

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How is arteriosclerosis treated?

To treat arteriosclerosis, we differentiate treatments based on the severity of the condition. For early-stage patients, we emphasize the control of lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar to potentially slow the progression of arteriosclerosis. For patients who have already suffered damage to target organs, such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, renal artery stenosis, or mesenteric artery stenosis, treatment might significantly rely on medication, and could possibly require the use of stents or even surgical bypass procedures. For the general population, we emphasize primary prevention, which includes a reasonable diet, appropriate exercise, and a balanced mental state to effectively prevent the disease.

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Arteriosclerosis has what manifestations?

Arteriosclerosis symptoms vary depending on the affected organ. Coronary arteriosclerosis primarily manifests as angina, while cerebral arteriosclerosis mainly results in cerebral embolism, potentially causing symptoms such as hemiplegia. Chronic cerebral ischemia can lead to cerebral atrophy and progress to vascular dementia. Aortic arteriosclerosis often displays no specific symptoms. Renal arteriosclerosis can cause refractory hypertension, and if a renal artery thrombosis occurs, it may lead to pain in the kidney area, oliguria, and fever. Chronic kidney ischemia can lead to kidney atrophy and progress to renal failure. Mesenteric arteriosclerosis can cause symptoms like indigestion, decreased intestinal tone, constipation, and abdominal pain. Arteriosclerosis in the limbs, often seen in the lower extremities, can cause symptoms such as coldness in the legs, numbness, and the typical intermittent claudication.