Atherosclerosis
Diagnosis
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?
Your doctor will perform a physical exam if you have symptoms of atherosclerosis. They’ll check for:
- a weakened pulse
- an aneurysm, which is an abnormal bulging or widening of an artery due to weakness of the arterial wall
- slow wound healing, which indicates a restricted blood flow
A heart specialist called a cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any abnormal sounds. They’ll be listening for a whooshing noise, which indicates that an artery is blocked. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis.
These tests can include:
- a blood test to check your cholesterol levels
- a Doppler ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a picture of the artery that shows if there’s a blockage
- ankle-brachial index test, which looks for a blockage in your arms or legs by comparing the blood pressure in each limb
- magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) to create pictures of the large arteries in your body
- cardiac angiogram, which requires an injection of a radioactive dye that can be seen on X-rays to create a picture of the arteries in your heart
- an electrocardiogram (EKG), which measures the electrical activity in your heart to look for any areas of decreased blood flow
- a stress test, or exercise tolerance test, which monitors your heart rate and blood pressure while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle
Causes
Plaque buildup and subsequent hardening of the arteries restricts blood flow in the arteries, preventing your organs and tissues from getting the oxygenated blood they need to function. Many factors place you at risk for atherosclerosis. Some risks can be prevented, while others cannot.
Symptoms
Most symptoms of atherosclerosis don’t show until a blockage occurs. Common symptoms include chest pain; pain in your leg, arm; shortness of breath, etc. It’s also important to know the symptoms of heart attack and stroke that can be caused by atherosclerosis which require immediate medical attention.
Treatment
Since atherosclerosis involves a long-winded process during which the walls of the arteries change, it required constant care throughout one’s life, in terms of regulating lifestyle. One must make sure that they are consuming a balanced diet, participating in regular physical activity, etc.
Diagnosis
A heart specialist called a cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any abnormal sounds. They’ll be listening for a whooshing noise, which indicates that an artery is blocked. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis.
Outlook and Prevention
With treatment, you may see improvement in your health, but this may take time. The success of your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition, how promptly it was treated, and whether other organs were affected.
Introduction
Atherosclerosis is a process which occurs on the arterial walls of the body. The risks for developing atherosclerosis increase with age. Harmful fats become deposited in plaque form on the internal walls of the arteries, these plaques are called atheroma.
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