Atherosclerosis symptoms & causes

Atherosclerosis can be a complex condition, but we’re here to help. The good news is that it’s highly treatable when diagnosed early. Atherosclerosis can begin as early as childhood, and usually progresses more rapidly between ages 40 and 50. By age 60 about 75% of people have some degree of atherosclerosis.

At Aurora, we use advanced, minimally invasive methods to reopen blocked arteries, so you can recover quicker and get back to living well. If you're concerned about atherosclerosis symptoms, our expert team is here to provide comprehensive care and guidance.

What is atherosclerosis?

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis where a buildup of fats, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in your blood cause buildup in the arteries. Called plaque, this buildup makes it harder for blood to flow and can cause chest pain, heart attack and other health issues.

Atherosclerosis vs. arteriosclerosis

Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are very similar, cause similar complications and are often mistaken for the same condition.

Arteriosclerosis is a group of conditions that cause arteries to stiffen and thicken. Healthy arteries are stretchy and flexible. When arteries thicken with arteriosclerosis, blood flow gets interrupted, causing problems with blood circulation.

Atherosclerosis involves clogging in the arteries caused by fatty, waxy buildup (plaque) rather than by a thickening of the arteries. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque can also burst, leading to a blood clot. Recognizing atherosclerosis symptoms is crucial for early intervention and prevention of complications.

Atherosclerosis complications

Atherosclerosis can lead to the hardening of the arteries anywhere in your body, including those in your heart, legs, brain and kidneys. This means it can lead to a variety of disorders, depending on where it’s located.

• Coronary artery disease: Also known as atherosclerotic heart disease, occurs when atherosclerosis forms in the arteries that supply blood to your heart.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): This develops when atherosclerosis forms in the arteries that supply blood to your legs, arms or pelvis.
• Carotid artery disease: When atherosclerosis affects the arteries that supply blood to your brain, it can slow blood flow or create a narrower passage that is more likely to be blocked by blood clots. This can lead to a silent stroke, ministroke or stroke.
• Chronic kidney disease: When atherosclerosis affects the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys, it can cause renal artery disease.
• Aneurysm: Anywhere in the body, atherosclerosis can cause a bulge in the wall of an artery, which is called an aneurysm. If it bursts, an aneurysm can be life-threatening and there are often no symptoms.

Atherosclerosis symptoms

Because plaque and blockages usually build up gradually and painlessly, there usually are no signs of atherosclerosis in the beginning. As atherosclerosis progresses, your signs and symptoms of hardening of the arteries depend on which arteries in your body are affected.

• If atherosclerosis is in the arteries leading to your brain, you may experience a sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, or drooping muscles in your face, which are common atherosclerosis symptoms.
• If atherosclerosis is in your coronary (heart) arteries, you may experience chest pain, shortness of breath or heart attack.
• If atherosclerosis is in your leg arteries, you may feel pain when walking.

Atherosclerosis causes & risk factors

Doctors and researchers think atherosclerosis may be caused by damage to the arteries. This damage might be from:

• Diabetes, obesity or insulin resistance
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol or high triglycerides, types of fat in the blood
• Inflammation caused by a disease or an infection including lupus or arthritis
• Smoking<

Atherosclerosis diagnosis

The following signs can indicate a narrowed or hardened artery affected by atherosclerosis. During a physical exam, your doctor might notice:

• Lower blood pressure in one limb
• Swooshing sound, called a bruit, in your artery
• Weak or absent pulse

If your doctor finds any sign of hardening of the arteries, they may do additional tests, such as:

• Ankle/brachial index compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the pressure in your arm to see how well your blood is flowing. Your doctor also may use this test to diagnose peripheral artiery disease (PAD).
• Blood tests to check your oxygen levels and organ function
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart rhythm and blood flow
• Stress test to look at how your heart functions when it’s working hard, like during exercise. If you’re unable to exercise, we give you medication to simulate exercise during the test.
• Imaging to get a picture of your blood vessels and organs and determine if atherosclerosis is present. There are many options your doctor can choose from, such as:
  
  • A CT scan creates images of the heart, brain and other areas to see if blood vessels have hardened or have buildup.
  • Computed tomography angiography (CTA) uses dye to show the inside of your arteries.
  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) uses magnetic fields to make the images.
  • Intravascular ultrasound gives a cross-sectional view of the vessel walls from inside.
  • Nuclear cardiology imaging uses small amounts of radioactive material to create the images.

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Atherosclerosis treatment

When it comes to atherosclerosis, prevention is the best medicine. Many people aren’t even aware they have atherosclerosis until they have a heart attack or stroke. But you can reduce your risk with a healthy lifestyle and diet.

And if you’re at risk, we may recommend medications to help lower your cholesterol, control your blood pressure or prevent blood clots.

In some cases, you might need more direct treatment to clear the arteries or prevent blockage or blood clots. We may recommend:

• Cardiac catheterization: In this procedure, we thread a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the tip through a blood vessel in your arm or groin to your heart. If we find a blockage, we inflate a tiny balloon to open the artery, which is called angioplasty, or leave a small cage, or stent, in place to hold the artery open.
• Bypass surgery: In this surgery, your surgeon creates a new path for blood to flow around the artery that’s been blocked by plaque.

Ways to prevent atherosclerosis

The following lifestyle changes can help keep your arteries healthy and reduce or prevent atherosclerosis:

• Quitting smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Checking and maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a healthy diet including plenty of berries, oats, leafy greens and olive oil
• Keeping blood pressure at healthy levels

Are you at risk for heart disease?

Knowing your risk factors of heart disease – the leading cause of death in the U.S. – can help you lower your chances of developing it. Our heart health quiz estimates your risk, determines which of your risk factors are controllable and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.

Are you at risk for stroke?

Most strokes are preventable, and many of the risk factors are controllable. Our stroke quiz will help you estimate your chances of experiencing one, find ways to minimize your risk and give you an idea of what to do next based on your results.