Hospital News
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More on Atherosclerosis
- Dean Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Elected Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Do Heart Disease and Cancer Have a Common Genetic Link?
- Lupus Patients at Increased Risk for Atherosclerosis, Weill Cornell Study Finds
- New Intravascular Radiation Procedures Reduce Renarrowing of Coronary Arteries
- New Laser Technology Offers Promise for Heart Disease Patients
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Announces State-of-the-Art, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center in Washington Heights
- NewYork-Presbyterian Physician-Scientists Present at Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Annual Meeting in Baltimore
- Research Shows Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Lovastatin Reduces Risk of Heart Attack in Healthy Adults
- Weill Cornell Dean and Cardiovascular Expert Makes "Top Ten" Texas List
- Weill Cornell Researchers Identify a Likely Genetic Cause of Atherosclerosis
Clinical Services
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More on Atherosclerosis
- Advanced Diagnostics
- Alcohol Septal Ablation
- Angiograms
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Artificial Heart Devices: LVAD
- Cardiac Electrophysiologic Studies and T-wave Alternans Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Grafting)
- Echocardiograms
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Intravascular / Intracoronary and Intracardiac Ultrasound
- Nuclear Imaging For Heart Disease (PET scans, MUGA scans)
- Off-pump Surgery
- Pediatric Heart Surgery
- Preventive Cardiology
- Robotic Heart Surgery
- Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Tilt Testing
- Transmyocardial Revascularization
- Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Atherosclerosis
What is atherosclerosis?
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Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may start as early as childhood. However, the disease has the potential to progress rapidly.
What causes atherosclerosis?
It is unknown exactly how atherosclerosis begins or what causes it. Some scientists think that certain risk factors may be associated with atherosclerosis, including:
- elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- high blood pressure
- smoking
- diabetes mellitus
- obesity
- physical inactivity
How does the disease progress?
There is a gradual build-up of plaque or thickening of the inside of the walls of the artery, causing a decrease in the amount of blood flow and a decrease in the oxygen supply to the vital body organs and extremities.
A heart attack may occur if the blood supply is reduced to the heart. A stroke may occur if the blood supply is cut off to the brain. Gangrene may occur if the blood supply is reduced to the arms and legs.
What are the symptoms of atherosclerosis?
Signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis may develop gradually, and may be few, as the plaque builds up in the artery. Symptoms will also vary depending on the affected artery. However, when a major artery is blocked, signs and symptoms may be severe, such as those occurring with heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or blood clot. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for atherosclerosis may include any, or a combination of, the following:
- coronary arteriogram (or angiogram) - with this procedure, x-rays are taken after a contrast agent is injected into an artery - to locate the narrowing, occlusions, and other abnormalities of specific arteries.
- Doppler sonography - a special transducer is used to direct sound waves into a blood vessel to evaluate blood flow. An audio receiver amplifies the sound of the blood moving though the vessel. Abnormalities in these soundwaves may indicate an obstruction in the blood flow.
- blood pressure comparison - comparing blood pressure measurements in the ankles and in the arms to determine any constriction in blood flow. Significant differences may indicate a narrowing of vessels which could be caused by atherosclerosis.
- Nuclear Stress Test - a radioisotope is used to measure blood flow to regions of the heart. This test can be done with exercise or with medicine that mimics the effects of exercise.
- stress echocardiography - ultrasound pictures of the heart are taken before and after exercise to look for areas of the heart that are not getting enough blood flow.
Treatment for atherosclerosis:
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- the location of the blockage
- the patient's signs and symptoms
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
Treatment may include:
- lifestyle modifications to control risk factors, including regular exercise, proper nutrition, and smoking cessation
- angioplasty - with this procedure, a catheter is used to create a bigger opening in the vessel to increase blood flow. Although angioplasty is performed in other blood vessels, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) refers to angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit more blood flow into the heart. There are several types of PTCA procedures, including:
- balloon angioplasty - a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area.
- atherectomy - the blocked area inside the artery is "shaved" away by a tiny device on the end of a catheter.
- coronary artery stent - a tiny titanium coil is expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area and is left in place to keep the artery open. many stents used today are coated with medications that significantly reduce the chance that a new blockage will form at the site.
