What is arteriosclerosis? What causes it? How does it affect the cardiovascular system? Explore the facts about this chronic disease that leads to hardening and thickening of artery walls.

Understanding Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is a chronic condition characterized by the abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls, leading to a loss of elasticity in the blood vessels. This condition is often used interchangeably with the term “atherosclerosis,” which refers to a specific type of arteriosclerosis involving the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances within the artery walls.

Causes of Arteriosclerosis

The primary causes of arteriosclerosis include:

• Aging: As individuals grow older, the arterial walls naturally begin to thicken and lose elasticity, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis.
• High blood pressure: Sustained high blood pressure can damage and weaken the arterial walls, leading to arteriosclerosis.
• High cholesterol: Elevated levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of plaque within the arteries, a key characteristic of atherosclerosis.
• Diabetes: Uncontrolled blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can accelerate the development of arteriosclerosis.
• Smoking: Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for arteriosclerosis, as it can damage and inflame the arterial walls.
• Obesity: Excess weight, particularly around the abdomen, is linked to an increased risk of arteriosclerosis.

Symptoms of Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis often progresses slowly and may not present with any noticeable symptoms in the early stages. However, as the condition worsens, individuals may experience:

• Chest pain (angina): Restricted blood flow to the heart can cause chest discomfort, especially during physical activity.
• Shortness of breath: Reduced blood flow to the lungs can make it difficult to breathe.
• Leg pain (claudication): Narrowed arteries in the legs can cause pain or cramping during physical activity.
• Decreased kidney function: Arteriosclerosis can impair blood flow to the kidneys, leading to a decline in kidney function.
• Stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack): Blockages in the carotid arteries can increase the risk of stroke or temporary stroke-like symptoms.

Impact on Cardiovascular Health

Arteriosclerosis is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases, as it can lead to a variety of complications:

1. Coronary artery disease: The narrowing and hardening of the coronary arteries can restrict blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of heart attack.
2. Peripheral artery disease: Arteriosclerosis in the limbs can reduce blood flow, leading to pain, cramping, and an increased risk of amputation.
3. Aortic aneurysm: The weakening and expansion of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, can increase the risk of a life-threatening aortic aneurysm.
4. Chronic kidney disease: Arteriosclerosis can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing their function over time.

Diagnosing and Managing Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, imaging scans, and vascular function assessments. Once diagnosed, managing arteriosclerosis often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and, in some cases, surgical interventions.

Preventing Arteriosclerosis

While the risk of arteriosclerosis increases with age, there are several lifestyle factors that can help prevent or slow the progression of the condition:

• Maintaining a healthy diet: Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis.
• Regular exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk of arteriosclerosis.
• Quitting smoking: Stopping the use of tobacco products can significantly reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis and associated cardiovascular complications.
• Managing underlying conditions: Controlling conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can help mitigate the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Conclusion

Arteriosclerosis is a chronic condition that can have serious implications for cardiovascular health if left untreated. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and impact of this disease, individuals can take proactive steps to prevent or manage arteriosclerosis and reduce their risk of related health complications.

Arteriosclerosis Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis

är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs 

: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity

compare atherosclerosis

arteriosclerotic

är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrä-tik 

adjective or noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

For athletes in endurance sports, there are four buckets of cardiac issues to watch out for: electrical disorders like arrhythmias, heart muscle disorders like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, genetic coronary artery disorders, and obstructive coronary artery problems like arteriosclerosis.

—Peter Vigneron, Outside Online, 5 Jan. 2023

An Associated Press article at the time of his death said an autopsy confirmed Hughes had undiagnosed arteriosclerosis, which occurs when blood vessels that circulate oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body, become hardened and had cut off 70% of the circulation to his heart.

—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 4 Jan. 2023

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that involves the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on artery walls.

—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2023

Both participants who received the vaccine and died were over age 55 — one went into cardiac arrest and the other had arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

—Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, 10 May 2021

According to Mayo Clinic, arteriosclerosis is a condition that involves blood vessels becoming thick and stiff, restricting blood flow.

—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2023

According to a 2017 study, pumpkin seed oil can improve infertility in males and help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis.

—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022

An autopsy confirmed Hughes suffered from arteriosclerosis heart disease, per an archived article by the New York Times.

—Solcyre Burga, Time, 4 Jan. 2023

Tissue-intrinsic dysfunction of circadian clock confers transplant arteriosclerosis.

—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2011

See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘arteriosclerosis.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French artériosclerose, from artério- arterio- + sclerose sclerosis

Note:
The term was introduced by the German-born French physician Jean Frédéric Lobstein (1777-1835) in Traité d’anatomie pathologique, tome second (Paris, 1833), p. 550.

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of arteriosclerosis was
in 1860

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near

arteriosclerosis

arteriole

arteriosclerosis

arterious

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“Arteriosclerosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arteriosclerosis. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

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Kids Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun

ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis

är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs 

: a disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries

arteriosclerotic

-ˈrät-ik 

adjective or noun

Medical Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun

ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis

är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs 

: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity

see atherosclerosis

More from Merriam-Webster on

arteriosclerosis

Nglish: Translation of arteriosclerosis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica. com: Encyclopedia article about arteriosclerosis

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Glossary – Vascular Clinic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z

Acute: Severe; of short duration, as opposed to chronic.

Anastomosis:The surgical or pathological connection of two tubular structures.

Aneurysm: A ballooning out of the wall of an artery or of the heart due to weakening of the wall by disease, injury, or an abnormality present at birth.

Angiography: A diagnostic procedure in which a dye is injected into blood vessels that are then photographed using X-rays. Angiography is used to visualize the condition of arteries and veins and to confirm the presence of blood clots or other abnormalities.

Anticoagulant: An agent that prevents blood from clotting.

Arteriography: A method of X-ray viewing the inside of the arteries by injection of radiopaque contrast substance into the lumen of the arteries.

Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the various parts of the body.

Atherosclerosis: A type of artery disease in which the inner layers of artery walls become thick and irregular because of deposits of cholesterol and calcium. The arteries become narrowed and the flow of blood through them is reduced. A localized area of this build up is called an “atheromatous plaque” and is often referred to as hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is frequently observed in the artery wall of aneurysm patients, though there is much debate as to whether or not atherosclerosis actually causes most aneurysms. In atherosclerosis, a substance called plaque forms on the lining of the blood vessel wall, weakening the wall. Seeplaque for more information.

Atrial fibrillation: The uncoordinated contractions or individual heart muscle fibers in the upper chambers of the heart. These chambers, called the atria, cannot contract in an organized fashion.

Blood clot: A mass of thickened blood formed by clotting factors in the blood. This clot can stop the flow of blood from an injury. Blood clots can form inside an artery whose walls are damaged by atherosclerotic plaques and can cause a heart attack or stroke. A blood clot and thrombosis are the same.

Bruits: Abnormal sounds or murmurs caused by turbulence and heard over blood vessels.

Cardiac: Pertaining to the heart.

Carotid artery: The major artery in the neck carrying blood to the brain. The body has a left carotid artery and a right carotid artery.

Carotid endarterectomy: Surgical removal of atherosclerotic plaque deposits from the carotid arteries.

Cerebrovascular occlusion: The obstruction or closing of a blood vessel in the brain.

Cholesterol: A type of fatty substance found in animal tissue. Cholesterol is present only in foods from animal sources, such as dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, animal fats, and egg yolks.

Chronic: Having a long duration, as opposed to acute.

CT (computer tomography): A radiographic diagnostic test often used for evaluating brain tissue and identifying whether a stroke was due to bleeding or a blockage in an artery. Also called a CAT scan. For more information, please see the Medline Plus entry for CT scan.

Diabetes mellitus: A disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Diastolic blood pressure: The lowest blood pressure measurement in the arteries. It occurs when the heart muscle is relaxed between beats.

Edema: Swelling due to an abnormally large amount of fluid in body tissue.

Embolic stroke: A stroke caused by obstruction in a brain artery cause by a clot that has formed elsewhere, usually in the heart or in the carotid arteries, and has been carried through the blood stream to the brain.

Embolus: A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in one part of the body and then is carried to another part of the body. The plural of embolus is emboli.

Hematoma: A tissue swelling filled with blood.

Hemiplegia: A paralysis of one side of the body.

Hemorrhage: Profuse bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel.

Heparin: A type of anticoagulant drug that prevents clotting by affecting the blood component fibrinogen.

High blood pressure: A chronic blood disease in which blood pressure is above its normal range of 140/90. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and kidney disease and is a major risk factor for stroke. A technical term for high blood pressure is hypertension.

Hypertension: Same as high blood pressure.

Infarction: Death of tissue due to a lack of blood, usually caused by a blockage of an associated artery.

Intermittent claudication: A complex of symptoms characterized by absence of pain in a limb when at rest. The start of pain and weakness when walking is begun, intensification of the pain and weakness if exercise is continued, and the disappearance of symptoms after a brief period of rest.

Ischemia: Decreased blood flow to an organ, usually due to constriction or obstruction of an artery.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A noninvasive diagnostic tool, which produces a magnetic field for examining the brain and other parts of the body.

Plaque: Plaque is formed when cholesterol, fibrous cells, and/or calcium deposit themselves in the inner lining of a blood vessel wall.

Platelets: One of the three kinds of formed elements found in the blood. Platelets aid in the clotting of the blood.

Risk factor: A condition that increases the chance of developing cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Stenosis: Narrowing or constriction of an opening or lumen, such as blood vessel.

Stent: A device used to hold a vessel open by providing support.

Stroke: The sudden interruption of the blood supply to the brain, caused either by blockage or a rupture of blood vessels.

Systolic blood pressure: The highest blood pressure measured in the arteries. It occurs when the heart contracts with each heart beat.

Thrombus: A blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel or cavity of the heart. The plural form of thrombus is thrombi.

Transcranial doppler ultrasound: A noninvasive diagnostic test that uses ultrasound technique to generate information about intracranial blood vessels. Also called TCD.

TIA (transient ischemic attack): An abnormal neurologic episode that is caused by a temporarily blocked blood vessel and leaves no permanent brain damage. Symptoms are the same as for a stroke, but are temporary, usually lasting twenty-four hours or less. They are now an important warning sign of an impending stroke and should never be ignored.

Ultrasound: Fast-frequency sound vibrations, not audible to the human ear, used in medical diagnosis.

Vascular: Pertaining to blood vessels.

Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels.

Vein: Any one of a series of blood vessels of the vascular system that carries blood from various parts of the body back to the heart.

Warfarin: A synthetic anticoagulant that works by preventing certain blood clotting agents from forming in the liver.

Treatment of vascular atherosclerosis in Petrozavodsk

• We provide free consultations of a physiotherapist on the selection of treatment
• We prescribe an individual treatment program for each patient that helps to reduce the size of the “plaque”

Atherosclerosis obliterans is a chronic disease of the vessels of the lower extremities, characterized by the deposition of cholesterol and other fats on the walls of the arteries in the form of plaque and plaques, thickening of the vessel walls and loss of their elasticity. As a result of the development of atherosclerosis, the lumen of the artery narrows, which, in turn, leads to impaired blood circulation and ischemia in the lower extremities.

Causes

Atherosclerosis affects middle-aged and elderly people. The main reasons for the development of this disease are called a hereditary factor, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, smoking. The use of foods high in animal fats also contribute to the development of atherosclerotic changes in the walls of blood vessels.

Symptoms

When walking, the patient experiences heaviness and a feeling of fatigue in the muscles of the legs, which makes him stop to rest, even after walking a short distance (up to 500 m.). One of the main symptoms of obliterating atherosclerosis is the presence of pain in the legs, which temporarily recede after the load is reduced, the appearance of intermittent claudication, in the later stages of the disease there are constant, persistent pain in the legs, which even strong analgesic drugs cannot cope with later.

A limb affected by atherosclerosis is usually paler and colder to the touch, small wounds on the skin heal for a long time and can subsequently develop into ulcers. Often, atherosclerosis is manifested in hair loss, peeling of the skin on the diseased limb.

Stages of obliterating atherosclerosis

Stage I

At the first stage of the disease, the patient experiences a feeling of coldness, “goosebumps”, chilliness, the skin of the legs turns pale, after a long load on the legs, fatigue appears in the calf muscles.

Stage IIA

Intermittent claudication appears. The patient experiences severe compressive pain, stiffness, fatigue in the muscles of the legs that occur when walking more than 200 m.

stage IIB

Accompanied by the same symptoms as stage IIA, but in this case, the distance that the patient is able to painlessly overcome does not exceed 200 m.

Stage III

The pains become pronounced and constant, do not go away even after a long rest.

Stage IV

The patient has trophic disorders, ulcers, gangrene.

Diagnostics

For the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities, the “Bone Clinic” uses the “gold standard” screening study – Doppler ultrasound.

Treatment

In the early stages, a patient with obliterating atherosclerosis is offered complex conservative therapy that helps reduce vasospasm, normalize blood pressure, increase the flexibility of erythrocytes and prevent the formation of blood clots in the vessels. Treatment may include both taking medications and physiotherapy, necessarily in combination with physical activity (walking, cycling, swimming).

For the treatment of obliterating atherosclerosis, the specialists of the “Bone Clinic” use various methods of physiotherapy and balneotherapy, aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, but also at reducing the drug load on the body, up to the rejection of drugs for a certain period. Particularly noteworthy is the role of ozone therapy, which is effective even in cases where other approaches and medicines are powerless.

In the later stages, treatment is exclusively surgical.

Consequences

Among deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, obliterating atherosclerosis ranks third. Such a high rate is due to a complication of this disease – gangrene of the limb, leading to amputation. Even after amputation, the risk is still high, with a mortality rate of up to 25%.

Prevention

As a prevention of obliterating atherosclerosis, it is recommended to eliminate the factors leading to the development of the disease.

• weight normalization;
• smoking cessation;
• maintaining an active lifestyle.

Patients with established atherosclerosis in the early stages, in order to prevent life-threatening consequences of the disease, must undergo conservative treatment courses in the system.

The treatment program for this disease at the Bone Clinic may include:

Ozone drippers

More details

Minor autohemotherapy

More details

Laser blood irradiation

More details

Dry carbonic baths

More details

Gi rudotherapy

More

Darsonvalization

More

View all methods

Stenosing atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries treatment, occlusion of carotid and vertebral arteries.

Atherosclerotic lesion of the arteries supplying the brain: brachio – shoulder, cephalis – head (Greek), i.e. brachio-head arteries.

These include:

• subclavian arteries,
• vertebral arteries,
• brachiocephalic trunk,
• common, external and internal carotid arteries

Classification of disease forms

(Reference: narrowing of the arteries – stenosis, complete blockage – occlusion)

• stenosis and occlusion of the internal carotid artery,
• stenosis and occlusion of the common carotid artery,
• stenosis and occlusion of the vertebral artery,
• stenosis and occlusion of the subclavian artery.

Narrowings of these arteries supplying the brain with blood lead to chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (CCM) or to strokes (cerebral infarction).

HNMK – a state of constant lack of blood in the brain, continuous oxygen starvation of the brain tissue, forcing the brain cells to be in constant tension of all intracellular systems and intercellular connections, which leads to disruption of the normal functioning of both brain cells and the organ as a whole.

The main classification of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (CCM) used in Russia (according to Pokrovsky A.V.) contains 4 degrees:

• I degree — asymptomatic course or absence of signs of cerebral ischemia against the background of proven, clinically significant damage to cerebral vessels;
• II degree – transient ischemic attack (TIA) – occurrence of focal neurological deficit with complete regression of neurological symptoms within up to 1 hour; transient disorders of cerebral circulation (TIMC) – the occurrence of focal neurological deficit with complete regression of neurological symptoms within 24 hours;
• III degree – the so-called chronic course of SMN, i. e. the presence of cerebral neurological symptoms or chronic vertebrobasilar insufficiency without a history of focal deficit or its consequences. In neurological systematizations, this degree corresponds to the term “dyscirculatory encephalopathy”;
• IV degree – previous, completed or complete stroke, i.e. the existence of focal neurological symptoms for more than 24 hours, regardless of the degree of regression of the neurological deficit (from complete to no regression).

Dry statistics cannot fully reflect the whole tragedy of the situation when a cerebral infarction occurs – a stroke … But it is stroke that ranks second in the structure of general mortality of the population, second only to cardiac (cardiac) pathology. 35% of stroke patients die within the first month, and approximately 50% of patients die within a year, i.e. every second. Think about these figures: about 6 million people are affected by stroke in the world every year, and in Russia – more than 450,000, i. e. every 1.5 minutes, a Russian suffers a stroke for the first time. In St. Petersburg, 12 thousand cases of stroke are registered annually.

Stroke

Stroke is the main cause of disability in the population. Only about 20% of surviving patients can return to their previous work. At the same time, a stroke imposes special obligations on the members of the patient’s family and places a heavy socio-economic burden on society.

Ischemic stroke is the necrosis of parts of the brain due to insufficient blood supply to them through the arteries. The brain is powered by two carotid and two vertebral arteries. About 80% of ischemic strokes occur due to damage to the carotid or vertebral arteries in the neck. The vast majority of narrowing of the arteries occurs due to the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in the vessel wall, which not only cause insufficient blood flow to the brain, but also collapse with the formation of small or massive blood clots, causing either a massive stroke or many small ones, leading to a significant decrease in intelligence. and dementia.

The presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels that feed the brain is often difficult to suspect, since complaints are varied and inconsistent. The main precursors of the development of a large stroke are the so-called transient ischemic attacks (TIA), which occur when small fragments of an atherosclerotic plaque break off and enter small vessels of the brain, causing brain death in a small area. In this case, transient paralysis of the arms and / or legs (from several minutes to several hours), speech disorders, transient or sudden blindness in one eye, memory loss, dizziness, fainting are possible.

Having a TIA is a red flag that your brain is in serious danger and needs to be evaluated and treated as soon as possible.

Modern possibilities of cardiovascular surgery allow saving lives and improving its quality for the majority of patients and prevent ischemic cerebrovascular accidents. The arsenal of cardiovascular surgeons of the clinic includes modern equipment, unique plastic materials and surgical treatment technologies. In some cases, intravascular elimination of the narrowing of the carotid artery is possible without anesthesia and an incision through the puncture of the artery and the introduction of a special instrument into its lumen under X-ray control.

Basic methods for diagnosing atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries:

• color duplex scanning,
• multislice computed tomography-angiography,
• direct radiopaque angiography.

Basic methods of treatment of atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries

Unfortunately, there are no drugs that can “dissolve” or eliminate plaques in the vessels. Some drugs, such as aspirin and cholesterol-lowering drugs, can only stop the growth of atherosclerotic plaques and reduce the likelihood of blood clots. The main and only effective treatment for narrowing and occlusion of the carotid, vertebral, subclavian arteries is surgery. Numerous studies by scientists from different countries have undeniably proven the effectiveness of preventive surgical methods in preventing stroke.