atherscloresis
Atherosclerosis
A number of ageing changes occur in the aorta, arteries and arterioles. The age related changes that occur in muscular arteries are usually known as arteriosclerosis. It involves alterations of the smooth muscle hypertrophy and intimal fibrosis further reducing the diameter of the vessel. Atherosclerosis is the most common arterial abnormality known as arteriosclerosis which is defined as the stiffening or hardening of the artery walls. However, atherosclerosis refers to the hardening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques) and other substances. It is important to note that all patients with atherosclerosis have arteriosclerosis but those with arteriosclerosis might not have necessarily have atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease which is caused by the thickening of the artery wall as a result of the accumulation of plaques which are made up of calcium and fatty materials such as cholesterol particles (lipoproteins) and triglyceride in the innermost layer of the endothelium of the large and medium sized arteries. The disease disrupts the flow of blood around the body, posing serious cardiovascular complications. Atherosclerosis begins as soft deposits of fat that hardens with age.
Aetiology
The aetiology of atherosclerosis is not fully understood, but there are certain factors that contribute to atherosclerosis plaque progression. These include genetic and acquired factors. The processes involved in atherosclerosis include coagulation, inflammation, lipid metabolism, intimal injury, and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Certain risk factors have also been identified to explain the development of atherosclerosis and these can be separated into two groups, genetics and environmental:
Genetics
Age - The incidence of atherosclerotic complications increase with advancing age. For example the incidence of myocardial infarction increases by a factor of 5 between the ages of 40 and 60.
Gender - Men
A number of ageing changes occur in the aorta, arteries and arterioles. The age related changes that occur in muscular arteries are usually known as arteriosclerosis. It involves alterations of the smooth muscle hypertrophy and intimal fibrosis further reducing the diameter of the vessel. Atherosclerosis is the most common arterial abnormality known as arteriosclerosis which is defined as the stiffening or hardening of the artery walls. However, atherosclerosis refers to the hardening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques) and other substances. It is important to note that all patients with atherosclerosis have arteriosclerosis but those with arteriosclerosis might not have necessarily have atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease which is caused by the thickening of the artery wall as a result of the accumulation of plaques which are made up of calcium and fatty materials such as cholesterol particles (lipoproteins) and triglyceride in the innermost layer of the endothelium of the large and medium sized arteries. The disease disrupts the flow of blood around the body, posing serious cardiovascular complications. Atherosclerosis begins as soft deposits of fat that hardens with age.
Aetiology
The aetiology of atherosclerosis is not fully understood, but there are certain factors that contribute to atherosclerosis plaque progression. These include genetic and acquired factors. The processes involved in atherosclerosis include coagulation, inflammation, lipid metabolism, intimal injury, and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Certain risk factors have also been identified to explain the development of atherosclerosis and these can be separated into two groups, genetics and environmental:
Genetics
Age - The incidence of atherosclerotic complications increase with advancing age. For example the incidence of myocardial infarction increases by a factor of 5 between the ages of 40 and 60.
Gender - Men