Atherosclerosis By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach - PowerPoint Presentation

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Atherosclerosis

By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach

Overview

Buildup of plaque in arteriesCauses hardening of the arteriesRestricts blood flowAtherosclerosis in the heart is called Coronary Artery DiseaseSudden plaque rupture or clotting can cause the heart muscle to die.

Causes of Atherosclerosis

Sometime beginning in early childhood, atherosclerosis is a slow working and complex disease.As you get older, atherosclerosis begins to develope faster. The exact cause of Atherosclerosis is still undetermined.Some experts say that it can start with damage to the endothelium, which leads to the forming of plaqueThe endothelium is the lining inside of cells, which is responsible for keeping the arteries smooth. This eases the blood flow of blood through arteries.Atherosclerosis can develop when several different factors cause damage in the innermost layers of the arteries. These include:SmokingHigh blood pressureHigh amounts of cholesterol in bloodHigh amounts of sugar in the blood (can be due to Diabetes or insulin resistance)Plaque will begin to build up when the arteries are damaged.Platelets then will begin attaching to the site of injury, bunching together to form blood clots.These blood clots further limit the blood flow.

Buildup of plaque in artery

Risk factors: Who is at risk of developing atherosclerosis?

People who…Have unhealthy/high cholesterol levelsHave DiabetesHave high blood pressureDeal with the condition Insulin ResistanceSmokeAre overweightNever participate in any physical activityAre at an older ageHave a family history of heart diseaseThese put you at a higher risk of having atherosclerosis, but do not mean that you automatically have the disease.

How to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Adopt healthy eating habits Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, dairy products, seafood, etc. Increase physical activityExercise helps prevents elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, elevated triglyceride concentrations, LDL/HDL concentrations, etc. Avoid smokingSmoking damages/tightens blood vessels and raises your risk for atherosclerosis.Weight controlCreate a meal plan to avoid obesity and reduce risk for atherosclerosis.

To sum it all up, these following factors are causes to atherosclerosis and should be prevented: SmokingHigh cholesterolHigh blood pressureDiabetesStressLack of fruits and vegetablesExcessive alcohol intakeLack of exercise

Is Atherosclerosis Reversible?

Atherosclerosis is reversible and can be prevented.Lifestyle changes are a big step towards the cure of atherosclerosis. Avoid smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, lack of fruits/vegetables intake, stress, etc.Medication for high cholesterol and blood pressure are also recommended to slow or halt the progression of atherosclerosis. It could also prevent risk of heart attacks and stroke.Bypass surgery is also an option in which surgeons “harvest” a healthy blood vessel to bypass a segment blocked by atherosclerosis. Angiography and stenting are common procedures. By using a thin tube that inserts into an artery in the leg or arm, enables the doctor to access diseased arteries. By doing so, blockages are visible on a live X-ray screen. Stenting often opens up a blocked artery and helps reduce symptoms.

Citations

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/causes

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/atrisk