It is one of the cardiovascular diseases and characterized by the hardening and loss of elasticity of arterioles or small arteries and is most often associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
There are some other terms that has been used interchangeably with this such as; atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis.
These kinds of cases are handled by the medical professionals commonly known as cardiologists.
Causes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Increased fat portion in body
- Smoking and other sources of tobacco
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Inflammation caused by various diseases such as; arthritis, lupus or infections, or inflammation of unknown cause
Signs and Symptoms
It is a slow process that develops gradually and initially do not show any signs. Later on, signs depend upon the type of artery that has been defected and includes the following symptoms;
- chest pain or pressure
- sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
- difficulty in speaking
- temporary loss of vision in one eye
- high blood pressure
- kidney failure
Treatment Options
It can be treated by;
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Medication therapy
- Surgeries such as; percutaneous coronary intervention, Coronary artery bypass grafting, or carotid endarterectomy
