by Alicia M Prater PhD

Created on: April 02, 2008   Last Updated: December 07, 2008

The most well known form of arteriosclerosis is atherosclerosis, but the disease actually occurs in three forms: atherosclerosis, Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis, and small artery arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is characterized by a hardening of the arteries due to thickening and a loss of elasticity in the arterial walls.

Arteriosclerosis symptoms occur when it involves the arteries supplying the heart, brain, kidneys, and lower extremities. When affecting the heart, the disorder results in a heart attack (myocardial infarction) by preventing oxygen from flowing to the heart tissue. Heart attack symptoms are chest and arm pain or numbness. Blocking the blood flow to the brain results in stroke, or cerebral infarction, and the symptoms are dizziness, numbness, and headaches. If arteriosclerosis affects the lower extremities it may be felt as pain when walking during the development of peripheral vascular disease, or gangrene of the legs. Other end results or symptoms of atherosclerosis are seen at death, including aortic aneurysms or dissections, aortic dilations, and thrombosis or embolism.

Atherosclerosis treatments include diet and lifestyle changes such as reducing cholesterol intake, exercise, and to stop smoking cessation. Prescription medications to reduce blood levels of cholesterol or to prevent clotting, as well as surgery to bypass or remove the affected arteries, are also options.

An overview of the various types of arteriosclerosis:

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the most common form of arteriosclerosis. The disorder is named for the cholesterol-filled (atherosclerotic) plaques that build up in the larger arteries over time. The arteries usually affected are the coronary arteries and aorta. Age is the dominant influence for the development of atherosclerosis, and there is a five times greater risk of a heart attack, which is the result of the coronary arteries being closed off by a plaque, between the ages of 40 and 60. Men are more prone to developing the disease than women until menopause.

There is a familial predisposition, or hereditary nature, to the disease. Other risk factors include diet, lifestyle, and personal habits such as a high intake of cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and saturated fats (hyperlipidemia), cigarette smoking, and being diagnosed with another disease including chronically high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes mellitus, homocystinuria, and hyperhomocystinemia which can be caused by low folate and vitamin

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