High Blood Pressure and Atherosclerosis

If high blood pressure goes unchecked and is not controlled it can damage a persons arteries. This leads to the hardening and thickening of the arteries, which is referred to as atherosclerosis.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is when deposits of substances build up plaque in the lining if the arteries. The substances are fat deposits, cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste products, and other types of substances. Generally this affects arteries that are of a medium to large size. As a person grows older the arteries become hardened. The plaque in the arteries grows enough so that blood flow is reduced. Predominantly the damage happens when the arteries either rupture or become fragile. Blood clots form when plaque ruptures in the artery and can break away and go to other parts of the body. A heart attack can occur if a clot were to block the vessel that feeds the heart blood. A stroke can happen if the clot blocks a vessel that gives blood to the brain. One of the main causes of atherosclerosis is high blood pressure. People that have high blood pressure, referred to as hypertension, are more likely to have atherosclerosis. The reason for this is that the high blood pressure puts pressure against the walls of the arteries. As time passes this pressure can damage the arteries, which make them more likely to become narrow and have a build up of plaque.

Symptoms of Atherosclerosis

Generally there are no symptoms for atherosclerosis until the narrowed arteries severely restrict the blood to the heart. When this happens a person can feel pain in the chest, which can come with exertion or when the person is resting. Because of the lack of systems and considering the seriousness of atherosclerosis a person should regularly check their blood pressure to make sure it is at a low level.

Treatment

To treat atherosclerosis, as well as high blood pressure, lifestyle changes are the best treatment. For atherosclerosis there are also medications that can reduce the cholesterol and fats that are in the blood. Other treatments for atherosclerosis are angioplasty and stenting. If the case of atherosclerosis is advanced open heart surgery may be needed in order to open the arteries. There are also medications that can help with the treatment of high blood pressure. These are medications prescribed by a physician and include beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and alpha-blockers. A healthy lifestyle should be followed in order to prevent both high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Adhering to a diet that is full of fruits vegetables and low fat diary products is a good diet to follow. A person should exercise at least 30 minutes a day. An exercise regimen of a brisk walk or riding a bicycle every day can help prevent high blood pressure. Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine should also be avoided. Smoking is a major cause of high blood pressure and should be avoided as well. High blood pressure can lead to many health risks, the main one being atherosclerosis. Regularly monitor your blood pressure and follow a healthy lifestyle, increasing your chance of living a long and healthy life. Sources: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4440 http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/atherosclerosis http://health.yahoo.com/topic/bloodpressure/overview/article/mayoclinic/D2F240ED-803D-4E1A-A692B907BFCFDD6D;_ylt=AuFIKL3_3zVlD7UUeZ8PLezZtcUF http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00062