Atherosclerosis Risk

Many of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease cause problems because they lead to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing and thickening of arteries and develops for years without causing symptoms. It can happen in any part of the body. Around the heart, it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs it is known as peripheral arterial disease. The narrowing and thickening of the arteries is due to the deposition of fatty material, cholesterol and other substances in the walls of blood vessels. The deposits are known as plaques. The rupture of a plaque can lead to stroke or a heart attack. (World Heart Federation).

Atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis) comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or paste) and sclerosis (hardness). It's the name of the process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque. It usually affects large and medium-sized arteries. Some

They are released into the bloodstream to provide triglycerides in body tissues. High levels of VLDL is associated with the development of plaque deposits in the arterial wall (Lopez-Jimenez, 2015). Low density lipoproteins (LDL) is made by the liver to transport cholesterol. These may form deposits on walls of arteries and other blood vessels which may cause heart attack, stroke and formation of plaques in arterial body walls (webmd.com). As triglyceride is removed from VLDL, intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) are formed. These intermediate density lipoprotein also promote plaque formation in the walls of arteries. All of the following types of lipoprotein mainly causes harmful effects if not monitored, however there is one good type of lipoprotein which is called high density lipoprotein. HDL collects phospholipids, cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported in the liver for it to be broken down (Smith, 2015). High concentrations of HDL correspond to healthy blood vessels and low risk of atherosclerosis, this is mainly the reason why it is called the “good cholesterol” (Kanakavalli et al.,

“You're more likely to have high cholesterol that can lead to heart disease if you have any of these risk factors such as smoking, obesity, large waist circumference, poor diet, lack of exercise and diabetes.” (Mayo Clinic Staff)

The Framingham study and others that followed showed us that HDL-cholesterol is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and that the increase of HDL-cholesterol of only 10 mg/dL leads to a risk reduction of 2-3% (PubMed.gov, Nov. 2012). Higher levels of HDL cholesterol result in a risk of cardiovascular disease closer to the default risk. Cardiovascular disease risk increases then plateaus with greater ratios between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Thus, higher levels of HDL cholesterol proportionate to levels of total cholesterol relate to lower cardiovascular disease risk (Lecture #3). Having a HDL-cholesterol of 60 mg/dL and above is the best place for a person to be. A bit lower, but considered a good HDL-cholesterol level standing is 40-49 mg/dL for men and 50-59 mg/dL for women. All three of us, me, my mother, and the case study Danny are in good standing regarding HDL-cholesterol levels, my mother with 55 mg/dL, me with 50 mg/dL, and Danny with 40

Nevertheless, there is an understandable and noticeable link between circulatory related diseases and lifestyle diseases, such as Coronary Heart Disease. Coronary heart disease can occur when fatty acids, such as cholesterol in an inadequate diet, build up in the walls of the coronary artery. These fatty deposits collect minerals and harden to become a plaque. Eventually, this plaque grows and can swells up, forming an aneurism. In some cases, this aneurism may burst leading to instant death. As it continues to grow and swell up, it finally blocks the artery completely and forms blood clots. This is known as coronary thrombosis. A myocardial infarction, or in other words as heart attack, occurs when no oxygen is able to reach the coronary artery and thus it is unable to fulfil its role in providing the heart muscle with a sufficient supply of blood. Heart attacks are very common in the society nowadays, especially occurring in smokers or obesity related diseases (Millar, June 2014)

High cholesterol is a dangerous disease that can lead to many life-threatening ailments, and can be lowered by eating healthy, while maintaining a balanced diet of leveled cholesterol. Cholesterol, the sleek-fat like substance that roams in the blood of a body. It is vital to life, but when there is too much intake of cholesterol, it can cause the body to malfunction and cause problems. There are two types of cholesterol HDL and LDL, which varies in the amount of protein and cholesterol it holds Too much cholesterol in a body is dangerous, and surprisingly, has no symptoms. The two main types of cholesterol are HDL and LDL, HDL helps reduce the chances of chronic heart disease, whereas LDL is the main reason for plaque build-up in artery

While it is beneficial to acknowledge the connection between cholesterol and heart health, it is equally critical to take into account their general contexts and ponder the countless

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two major risk factors for heart disease. About half of U.S. adults with high blood pressure and nearly 2 out of 3 U.S. adults with high cholesterol don 't have their condition yet under control (CDC/Vital Signs)

High cholesterol causes build up called atherosclerosis and this narrows ones heart arteries which causes heart attack, angina, or even sudden death. Hypertension can harden and thicken ones' arteries. This makes the vessels that blood travels through narrow, therefore not enough blood flows through the heart to the rest of the organs in the body. Diabetes and obesity can also contribute to heart disease and you must learn how to control your weight and blood glucose (Heart Disease, 2011).

Cholesterol can lead up to coronary heart disease. This is where deposits of lipids cause plaque build-up restricting the blood flow to the heart which

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty materials and plaque buildup on the inner lining of arteries. Arteries are blood vessels which carry rich blood to the heart and throughout the body. They’re lined by the endothelium, a thin layer of cells. The endothelium keeps blood flowing by keeping the inside of arteries smooth. However, when Atherosclerosis starts due to high blood pressure, smoking, or high cholesterol, it damages the endothelium. Atherosclerosis tends to happen throughout the body and arises when people grow older. This disease is mainly due to the deposition of fatty materials i.e., cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in the blood. The buildup of fat then hardens causing narrowing of the arteries. This

High cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease whereas lower cholesterol reduces the risk.

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the thickening and hardening of arteries. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a pathological situation in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Plaque is usually made of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood). Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD) around the world. The magnitude of this problem is so high that atherosclerosis claims more lives than all types of cancer combined and the financial burden are considerable1. It a complex, chronic pathological

If our body produces more LDL than the requirement which is needed for the function of the cells, it builds up in our blood. This increase in LDL levels in the blood stream leads to process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the blood vessels are hardened.