Causes of Atherosclerosis
Heart disease research doctors and scientists do not know the exact cause or
causes of atherosclerosis. Scientists think that the buildup of
plaque starts when the lining of the artery is damaged or injured, but they are not sure why and how the artery becomes damaged in the first place.
Scientists are also unsure of when atherosclerosis begins. They do know that it is a slow and complex disease that may start in childhood. They also think that atherosclerosis develops faster as people grow older.
Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis
Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chances of getting a certain disease. For atherosclerosis, the risk factors happen to be the same as those for
heart disease.
Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:
Symptoms of Atherosclerosis
The symptoms of atherosclerosis depend on which part of the body is not receiving enough blood and oxygen due to the narrowed artery or arteries.
Atherosclerosis symptoms take some time to develop, as the disease must progress to the point where an artery is severely narrowed or completely blocked.
Diagnosing Atherosclerosis
There is no single test to diagnose atherosclerosis. Therefore, in order to help make an
atherosclerosis diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam, looking for signs and symptoms of the condition.
Your healthcare provider will also recommend certain tests and/or procedures to identify atherosclerosis or its complications. Your doctor uses your physical exam results, your risk factors, family history, and your symptoms to decide which test or tests to order.
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