Atherosclerosis Explained - Your Risk to Stroke and Cardiac Arrest
It is the major reason for the occurrence of stroke and cardiac arrest.
This article will explain how atherosclerosis develops.
Atherosclerosis can start as early as during the childhood stage.
It can be a slow and complex process, usually progressing as the person ages.
There are people though who experience a rapid progress, which can be dangerous.
In fact, some people experience this progress even at their twenties.
Researchers and medical experts believe that heart disease starts with the damage to the innermost layer of the artery called the endothelium layer.
The arterial wall damage is usually caused by these 3 factors: •High Blood Pressure •High Blood Cholesterol and Triglycerides •Cigarette or Tobacco Smoke The first two factors are very common causes of heart disease.
Let us take a closer look at tobacco smoke as a risk factor to atherosclerosis.
Many may have an idea that tobacco smoke really contributes to heart disease.
Yes, cigarette smoke really worsens atherosclerosis.
It likewise speeds up the growth of plaques in the coronary arteries and the aorta.
It even affects the arteries in the legs.
The damage in the endothelium causes fats, platelets, cholesterol, cellular wastes, and other substances to be deposited in the arterial wall.
These deposited materials then stimulate the artery wall cells to produce other substances that can even further bring about buildup of cells.
With the buildup of cells and the surrounding materials, the deposits will likely increase in mass.
This causes the thickening of the endothelium.
With a thickened inner layer, this results in the shrinking of the artery's diameter.
This decreases blood flow dramatically.
Thus, it consequently reduces oxygen supply all over the body, causing cardiac arrest or stroke.