Atherosclerosis: the Silent Killer Essay

Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease. A year after leaving, the risk of an attack to the heart falls to approximately the half of a smoker.

Nicotine is the main active toxin in cigarettes, other chemicals such as tar and carbon monoxide also affect the heart. The toxins that are contained in cigarette smoking increases blood pressure, decrease exercise tolerance, and increase the tendency for blood clots.

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

Cigarette and tobacco smoking helps to increase ones blood pressure, it decreases ones tolerance to exercise and increase the chances of having a blood clot. Smoking also increases ones chances of having a coronary heart disease again after bypass surgery. (American Heart Association). Having too much cholesterol in the blood causes high cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia. When people eat too much food with high saturated fats, the blood isn’t able to carry it through the arteries. The fat then starts to buildup in the arteries, which causes a decrease in oxygen flowing to the heart this increase ones risk of having a heart attack. (Mayo Clinic Staff). High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the amount of force is pushed against the artery walls as blood flows through them. (Medical News Today). If ones blood pressure remains high, this can damage the arteries, which leads to coronary heart disease. In order for one to live a healthy life, they must exercise; this helps strengthening the hearts muscles. Lacking exercise leads to individuals becoming obese. Being obese damages the arteries and weakens the heart. All of these risk factors are what causes individuals to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD). The image below gives a more vivid understanding of fatty deposits piling up against the artery walls.

Atherosclerosis is associated with the major killer ailments in America, which include strokes, heart attacks, as well as peripheral vascular disease. The condition arises when there are a narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This is usually a gradual process, and it slowly blocks the arteries. When this happens, it will impede smooth blood flow. It is estimated that at least one million Americans lost their lives to a condition associated with atherosclerosis for the past few years.

What is Atherosclerosis Disease?Well Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries.Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body.The Atherosclerosis Disease is caused by high blood pressure,smoking,or high cholesterol.Did you know that about 360,000 people will die from the Atherosclerosis disease each year. Nikolai N. Anichkov was the one who discovered the Atherosclerosis disease.Atherosclerosis was discovered in 1964 by Anichkov.

Atherosclerosis can be a serious condition; it is when the arteries become clogged by fatty substances such as plaques or atheroma. This causes arteries to become narrow and harden which can restrict blood flow preventing organs from functioning properly (Williams 2000).

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

Atherosclerosis is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries. I chose this disease because a few years ago my dad was having the beginning symptoms of a heart attack. We didn’t know what was wrong with him, but we thought he had acid reflux. Fortunately, we got him to go to the emergency room before anything bad happened. My dad had atherosclerosis in several of his arteries for his heart. Our insurance only covers the arteries that have so much blockage, so this is not solved forever. Thus, I chose this disease to inform and learn more about it.

I learned from DARE class smoking is bad for your heart: I know that because my grandma smoked so bad that she died for 3 minutes. She came back again luckily. It is also is bad because my grandma after she was ok her face made her look really old. But she was only 40 years old. My grandma she had heart disease, and it was sad because I thought she wouldn’t come back again. The good thing is she is ok now, and still alive, and doing well.

According to the NRDC, nearly 18,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease were caused by active smoking in 1990. Smoking a single cigarette can damage blood flow to your heart for people with a pre-existing coronary artery disease. Cigarette smoking has been found to be the leading cause of pulmonary illness and death in the US. In 1990, smoking cause more than 84,000 deaths anywhere from lung disease, such as pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

Smoking is the one drug that has become one of the most influential drug known in the United States today. Many have smoked at least once in their lives, from the time of experiencing smoking as a teenager too experiencing smoking well into adulthood. What many are not aware of is that by smoking, it not only endangers the smoker’s life but the lives of others around. It puts the risk for others to become exposed to second hand smoke and other forms of health problems. These health issues explain why many are facing heart disease today. There are three types of heart disease that a person can contract because of smoking and they are cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. These three main types of heart diseases

Atherosclerosis is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis that occurs in coronary arteries is called coronary heart disease. Deep vein thrombosis can be fatal. The blood clot mixed with the fat on the blood vessels. As a result of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death.

Cigarette smokers are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers, and tobacco use doubles risk for stroke. It also causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels, and it causes premature wrinkles because it constricts the oxygen and warmth from all parts of the body so the skin ages faster.

Smoking creates toxins in the blood. This greatly contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material is deposited along the walls of the arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens, and can eventually block the arteries if not treated. Clots may also form around the plaque deposits. Smoking raises the levels of proteins that cause the blood to clot and also increases platelet production, making the blood stickier which further creates risk for clots. This also interferes with the blood flow and poses an added danger if they were to break off and travel through the body causeing assorted health problems such as heart attack, stroke, or gangrene.