— the leading cause of death among men and women in the
United States. According to the
American Heart Association 2001 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update,
atherosclerosis accounts for nearly 75 percent of all deaths from
cardiovascular disease. It is a common and potentially serious form of
arteriosclerosis, a class of diseases identified by the hardening of
arterial walls. While some forms of arteriosclerosis occur naturally over
time, atherosclerosis involves an unnatural buildup of plaque, which comprises
fats (lipids),
cholesterol
(lipoproteins), calcium and other materials. These masses of plaque (atheromas) may
eventually lead to a partial or complete blockage of the blood flow through
the artery, leading to the failure of cells and organs throughout the body as
they are starved of oxygen.
Atherosclerosis may begin as early as childhood, but it is the advanced stages
of this condition that are the most dangerous later in life. These advanced
stages can cause a narrowing (stenosis) of the
artery and speed the rate at which the artery is blocked or closed altogether
(occlusion). If the
affected artery is one of the
coronary arteries (located on the surface
of the heart), then a lack of oxygen-rich blood to the heart (cardiac ischemia)
could cause
coronary artery disease (CAD) and, consequently, increase an individual’s risk of the
following:
-
Angina. A
certain type of
chest pain,
pressure or vague discomfort.
-
Heart attack.
An event that results in permanent heart damage or death. It is also known
as a myocardial infarction, because part of the heart muscle (myocardium) may literally die (infarction) from lack of oxygen. A
heart attack is caused by a blockage in one of the coronary arteries.
-
Cardiac arrest.
A life-threatening situation in which the heart stops. The person must be
treated with a
defibrillator
within minutes in order to survive.
-
Sudden cardiac death. Death due to cardiac arrest.
In addition, as the plaque builds and hardens through a
process called
calcification,
pieces of the plaque may rupture (plaque rupture) and
stimulate the development of
blood clots.
Clots or broken-off pieces of clots traveling through the
blood
vessels can completely block an artery,
causing an
embolism.
Atherosclerosis can also affect arteries other than the coronary arteries. For
instance, blocked
carotid arteries in the neck or cerebral
arteries in the brain can lead to a
stroke, and
inadequate blood flow to the lower extremities can cause
peripheral arterial disease—a condition that can lead to poor circulation, sores and
gangrene.
Over five million Americans have been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, and at
least that many people have the disease but do not know it. Hereditary
factors, gender and age play a role in whether someone will develop the
disease. Men, African-Americans and individuals over the age of 65 are
especially prone to developing advanced atherosclerosis. In addition, a
greater risk is faced by the following people, particularly if they have more
than one risk factor:
- Those who have
diabetes
- Those who have a
smoking habit
- Those who rarely
exercise
(which is now considered to be as great a risk factor for heart disease as
smoking one pack of cigarettes per day)
- Those who are
obese or even
overweight
- Those with high levels of lipids (e.g.,
cholesterol and/or
triglycerides)
in their blood
[return to
associated illnesses to fungal exposure]