by Jennifer Beam

Created on: April 02, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2008

Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a common disease affecting millions of people worldwide. It develops when the walls of the arteries become hardened, thicken, and lose their elasticity. This occurs over time, as a result of too much pressure on the arteries. While the cause is greatly unknown, there are certain risk factors, at times coupled with heredity, that would lend credit to the ability of this disease to exacerbate.

Unrelieved stress, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes may contribute to the development of arteriosclerosis. A diet high in cholesterol is a major contributing factor, because it can cause a fatty build-up, called plaque, to harden within the arteries. When this occurs, it is referred to as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the most common type of arteriosclerosis, and the two terms are often used definitive to the other.

When the walls of the arteries become hardened and lose their elasticity, platelets (disk-shaped particles found in abundance in the blood, which play an important role in clotting) will form around the damaged site within the artery as the body attempts to self-repair. At the same time, fatty deposits made mostly of cholesterol will accumulate and harden within the arteries. This greatly reduces blood flow to major organs. As an added risk, these fatty deposits, as well as the blood clots, could dislodge and completely block blood flow to major organs.

Most people are unaware of the presence of arteriosclerosis until it has become severe. The reason for this is simple: noticeable symptoms do not appear until the artery has narrowed considerably or has become blocked. The symptoms will then vary depending on which organ was affected.

The most common symptom of arteriosclerosis to the coronary arteries is angina (chest pain). In a coronary artery, a blood clot could (and most likely would) cause a heart attack. If the blood flow to the heart is repeatedly, or chronically, hampered, fatal heart failure could result.

Sudden dizziness, numbness, and weakness could all be signs of an obstruction in the blood flow within the carotid arteries. Carotid arteries are large arteries on each side of the neck that supply blood flow to the head and the brain. When these arteries become blocked, a stroke is likely the cause of the underlying symptoms. If a stroke occurs, it could cause a loss of speech, paralysis, and sometimes death.

Arteriosclerosis can present many complications. Among the more serious, and possibly

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