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Historically, atherosclerosis has been referred to as a general term for thickening and hardening of the arteries, a condition that underlies many of the ischemic heart diseases. Atherosclerosis is actually a type of arteriosclerosis and is characterized by deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) in the inner lining of the artery. The resulting buildup is referred to as plaque. Often, atherosclerosis is referred to as a coronary artery disease (CAD) because of the resultant damage done to coronary arteries.Atherosclerotic plaque tends to occur primarily in large and medium-size elastic and muscular arteries and can lead to ischemia (decrease in blood flow or blockage of blood flow) of the heart, brain, or extremities. Plaque may be present throughout a person’s lifetime, with the earliest formation, known as a “fatty streak,” being fairly common in infants and young children.
Early TheoriesInitially, it was thought that plaque developed in “response to injury” and tended to collect at sites of injury. Many scientists believed that the process of plaque buildup begins because the protective inner lining of the artery (endothelium) became damaged, and fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the blood tend to aggregate in these damaged areas. High blood pressure surges, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, and cigarette smoking were the main suspects in having caused this injury to artery walls. As a result of national campaigns aimed at reducing dietary fats, millions of people report cutting down on animal fat and dairy products. However, despite massive lifestyle changes and the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the United States, Europe, and most of Asia.
Inflammatory RisksToday, scientists are beginning to view the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in a whole new way, with a vastly expanded list of possible causes. Many experts believe that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, with numerous factors contributing to plaque formation. Among these culprits are elevated and modified low-density lipoprotein, free radicals caused by cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and certain infectious microorganisms, such as herpes viruses or Chlamydia pneumoniae, and a combination of these and other factors. The bottom line is that while elevated cholesterol continues to be important in approximately 50 percent of patients with cardiovascular diseases, other factors need to be taken into consideration, particularly those that cause inflammation and subsequent injury within the artery walls.
Syndrome XJust as high-fat diets, certain infectious diseases that cause inflammation, and other factors are under scrutiny for their role in the development of CVD, yet another theory is capturing national attention. According to Gerald Reaven, endocrinologist and doctor at Stanford University, when people consume too many calories, particularly carbohydrates, their bodies eventually become insulin resistant, meaning that their cells resist, or don’t work properly in, handling blood glucose levels. Consequently, insulin and blood sugar levels remain high over time. *5/277/5*

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. This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 at 4:40 am and is filed under Cardio & Blood- Сholesterol. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.