by Idehen Peter

Created on: August 08, 2009   Last Updated: August 11, 2009

Atherosclerosis, a disease condition characterized by (Silent killer)

Atherosclerosis is a disease condition characterized with the narrowing of the arteries and thickening of the artery walls due to the build up of deposits such as cholesterol combined by fibrous tissue and calcium crystals.

This disease is common in patients who develop hearth related diseases such as: Peripheral arterial disease, stroke, coronary artery disease and abdominal angina. The chances of getting this disease depend on the age of the individual. For example, older person are more vulnerable to this disease than the young. Some factors are said to build up this disease. Such factors are: age, heredity, smoking, gender, and obesity.

Age: The choice or risk of developing atherosclerosis increases after age 35, although it may begin much earlier because blood vessels loose some certain amount of elasticity with age. Heredity: A family history where a circulatory disease is affected may denote increase risk in closely related family members. Smoking: Smoker's has the risk of coronary artery disease, due to the number f cigarette smoked. Obesity: People who are predisposed to high triglyceride, such as the obsessed, are more likely to have atherosclerosis.

A survey shows that atherosclerosis is the major cause of death and disability in first world nations and has become an increasing problem in most third world countries.

The sedimentary habits of most people, is a major cause of this disease. This includes, eating food that has high fat, and high in cholesterol. These substances are deposited at the inner lining of the arteries, scar tissues and sometimes calcium crystals surrounding them, making the arteries hard and inelastic, and thereby making it difficult for blood and oxygen to pass through. This situation causes the hearth to work harder to pump blood, which will lead to it enlarging, thereby leading to abnormalities of the hearth failure. High blood pressure also has a negative effect on arteries to the eyes and kidneys, thereby leading to failure of these organs.

There is no cure to atherosclerosis, though surgeries and related procedures can relieve blockages. But it is better to prevent the development of atherosclerosis disease.

5 Gender: Women before their menopause tend t have lower risk of contracting arthrosclerosis than men who are of the same age. But women's risk increases after menopause and exceed that of men.

The first symptom of arthrosclerosis

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