Arteriosclerotic vessel disease is a progressive condition that effects the blood vessels throughout the human body. Commonly referred to as atherosclerosis, arteriosclerotic vessel disease causes a thickening and narrowing of the soft inner linings of the body's blood vessels. This condition, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries, is a major contributing factor in the development and progression of both coronary and cerebral artery disease.
Significance
Arteriosclerotic vessel disease is a disease effecting the blood vessels, the veins and arteries throughout the human body. Arteriosclerotic vessel disease effects the soft inner linings of blood vessel walls, transforming them from smooth, pliable channels through which blood flows into hardened, narrow channels that cause disrupted and reduced blood flow. In advanced arteriosclerotic vessel disease, blood vessel walls develop significant buildup of fatty deposits and calcium deposits, both of which can progress to the point of completely blocking off blood vessel flow. Arteriosclerotic blood vessel disease can trigger both heart attacks and strokes by effecting the blood vessels in both the coronary arteries and cerebral arteries.
Function
The main component of arteriosclerotic vessel disease is cholesterol-laden deposits that form in the walls. Elevated blood cholesterol levels increase the chances of cholesterol deposits attaching themselves to blood vessel walls and producing blood vessel blockages over time. The body's immune system plays a significant role in the development and progression of arteriosclerotic vessel disease, as well. Small breaks and fissures that oftentimes develop in the walls and in the cholesterol-laden deposits lining the blood vessel walls trigger an immune system response, a response that includes an attempt by the body to heal these blood vessel breaks and fissures by forming a patch, or scab, over the injured areas, which ultimately results in bigger, more obstructive blood vessel blockages.
Considerations
Arteriosclerotic vessel disease is oftentimes silent as it progresses. Many seemingly healthy people, both young and old alike, have been felled by heart attacks and strokes caused by blood vessel abnormalities due to arteriosclerotic vessel disease. Commonly referred to as the silent killer, arteriosclerotic is often not diagnosed until it has either progressed to the point that it causes a stroke or heart attack or death, at which point an autopsy uncovers significant arteriosclerotic vessel disease, the most lethal varieties afflicting the blood vessels in the coronary and cerebral arteries.
Prevention/Solution
There are a number of dietary and lifestyle modifications that can be made to prevent and/or alter the course of arteriosclerotic vessel disease. High-fat diets, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise are all risk factors that increase the likelihood of arteriosclerotic vessel disease developing. Certain risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be altered, but even in individuals with a genetic predisposition toward developing arteriosclerotic vessel disease, positive lifestyle changes can reduce their chances of developing the condition. Controlling body weight, reducing fat and cholesterol, smoking cessation and engaging in a regular exercise regimen are all modifications that can increase the health and functionality of the body's circulatory system, which reduces the chances of arteriosclerotic vessel disease from developing.
Warning
Even though arteriosclerotic vessel disease can produce no obvious physical symptoms, especially in early, milder forms of the disease, there are certain physical symptoms that can occur in individuals with arteriosclerotic vessel disease. Shortness of breath, chest pain, especially during or immediately after physical exertion, and numbness and/or tingling in the extremities are all common symptoms that are linked with blood vessel disorders, especially in the heart and brain. Any individual presenting with these types of symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional in a timely manner.
Tags: blood vessel, vessel disease, blood vessel walls, vessel disease, vessel walls, arteriosclerotic vessel