Дата: Суббота, 16.11.2013, 05:09:46 | Сообщение # 1
Группа: Гости
In lower animals, atherosclerosis of swine and fowl closely resemble human atherosclerosis. What is the Difference Between Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis? Arteriosclerosis is the stiffening or hardening of the artery walls. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of the artery because of plaque build-up. All patients with atherosclerosis have arteriosclerosis, but those with arteriosclerosis might not necessarily have atherosclerosis. However, the two terms are frequently used with the same meaning. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis? A symptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as pain, while a sign can be detected by other people, such as a rash. The first signs of atherosclerosis can begin to develop during adolescence, with streaks of white blood cells appearing on the artery wall.
The symptoms of the disease depend on which arteries are affected: Carotid Arteries - these arteries provide blood to the brain, when the blood supply is limited patients can suffer stroke and may experience: Weakness Difficulty breathing Headache Facial numbness Paralysis Coronary Arteries - these arteries provide blood to the heart, when the blood supply to the heart is limited it can cause angina and heart attack, symptoms include: Vomiting Extreme anxiety Chest pain Coughing Feeling faint Renal Arteries- these supply blood to the kidneys; if the blood supply becomes limited, there is a serious risk of developing chronic kidney disease, and the patient may experience: Loss of appetite Swelling of the hands and feet Difficulty concentrating Peripheral arterial disease - the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs, are blocked. The most common symptom is leg pain, either in one or both legs, usually in the calves, thighs or hips. The pain may be described as one of heaviness, cramp, or dullness in the leg muscles. Other symptoms may include: Hair loss on legs or feet Male impotence (erectile dysfunction) Numbness in the legs The color of the skin on the legs change The toenails get thicker Weakness in the legs What are the Causes of Atherosclerosis? The condition is caused by macrophage white blood cells and fat that accumulate in arteries - the white blood cells are originally sent by the body's immune system to clean up LDL cholesterol pockets. When they stick to an artery they secrete a molecule called netrin-1, this stops normal migration of the macrophages out of the arteries. As a result, what you have left is a mixture of clumped up cholesterol pockets and white blood cells, this is the plaque that can disrupt blood flow. A study carried out by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center is said to have been the first of its kind to explain why macrophages stick to artery walls. (Link to article) Certain factors that can damage the inner area of the artery (endothelium) and can trigger atherosclerosis include: High Blood Pressure High levels of cholesterol Smoking High levels of sugar in the blood Areas of the artery that are damaged are likely to have plaque build up which can eventually break open. When the plaque breaks open, blood cell fragments called thrombocytes (or platelets) accumulate at the affected area.
