Atherosclerosis (Arteriosclerotic Vascular Disease) is a condition in which wall of artery thickens due to build up off fatty materials like cholesterol, calcium and other waste products called plaque. Formation of these plaques results in the reduction of blood flow through an artery. These plaques become fragile and sometimes rupture to form blood clot and leads to damage to artery. Then blood clots formed results in obstruction of blood flow off and travel to another part of the body. If this happens to heart it leads to heart attack and if it happens to brain it leads to stroke.

Causes:-

The exact cause for Atherosclerosis is unknown. But some of the researchers say it is due to,

• Damage of endothelium (an inner laying of the artery)

• Accumulation of plaques, which results in hardening or narrowing of arteries and leading to damage of arteries.

• Rupture of fatty deposits by entering into blood stream which results in formation of blood clot , damage to the organs and blocks the blood flow.

Risk factors:

• Age (45 or >45 years for men; 55 or >55 years for women)

• Cigarette smoking

• Diabetes

• Having close relatives with heart disease at an younger age

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Not doing exercises regularly

• Obesity

Treatment:-

Various types of treatment are used for Atherosclerosis. These include:

Medical treatment - in this type drugs are used to treat Atherosclerosis but medication treatment is unsatisfactory as damage has already done. The following types of drugs are used:

• HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors - these are used to lower the lipid content present in the body. These include: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), Pravastatin (Pravachol), Pitavastatin (Livalo), Simvastatin (Zocor), Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

• Fibric acid derivatives - these are used to reduce the hepatic VLDL very low-density proteins or triglyceride levels. These include: Gemfibrozil (Lopid), Fenofibrate (Tricor)

• Bile acid sequestrants - these are used to increase the fecal loss of cholesterol and decrease in intrahepatic levels of cholesterol. These include: Cholestyramine (Questran, LoCholest, Prevalite), Colestipol (Colestid)

• Antioxidants - these are used to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, inhibit lipid accumulation of arterial wall and to improve endothelial function. These include: Vitamin E (Vita-Plus E, Softgels, Aquasol E), C, E

• Nicotinic acid derivatives - these are used to reduce the LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These include: Niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, Slo-Niacin)

• Anti-platelets - these are used to reduce the formation of blood clots and blockages. These include: Aspirin

• Anticoagulants - these are used to prevent the formation of blood clots. These include: Coumadin

Surgery:

• Angioplasty - in this a long thin tube called catheter is inserted into the narrowed part of artery and then a wire with deflated balloon is passed and then is inflated compressing the deposits along the artery walls and a stent (mesh tube) is placed in artery to keep artery open.

• Bypass surgery - in this graft bypass is created using a vessel from another part of the body. It helps in blood flow around the blocked or narrowed artery.

• Endarterectomy - in this fatty deposits present across the walls of narrowed artery are surgically removed