Atherosclerosis

2661 Words6 Pages

Zachary Russo
MOV 495
Dr. Sherman
3/28/15
Literature Review
Background
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the heart and other parts of the body. The plaque that forms can be made up from fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood, which is dependent on their diet. Over time the plaque will cause the arteries to harden which they will lose their elastic function. If this happens it will limit blood flow of oxygen to the organs and other areas of the body. Atherosclerosis can lead to other serious medical problems such as heart attack, stroke, and eventually cause death. When atherosclerosis effects the arteries of the …show more content…

However there was no notable reduction in the magnitude of carotid atherosclerosis (9). The research was done over a single marathon event, more follow up research would have to be conducted to support reductions in atherosclerosis. An additional study has shown that aerobic exercise training can prevent further progression of atherosclerosis, but the arterial lesions and scarring cannot be reversed (8). This is important to understand, because once the damage is done to the arteries it cannot be reversed. In another piece of literature, it was suggested that an eight week long at home endurance based training program could reduce the arterial stiffness. This study found that aerobic exercise training did not improve artery stiffness or reduce blood pressure. However there was an increase in maximal oxygen uptake (3). There is suggestions that the short eight week study was too short term to show any changes in arterial stiffness, due to the arteries being resistant to short term modifications. A more lengthy study would better suite this type of research …show more content…

With medication and lifestyle changes, plaques may slow or stop growing. They can even shrink slightly with aggressive types of treatment. Reducing the lifestyle risk factors that lead to atherosclerosis will slow the process; but it cannot necessarily fix any damage that may have occurred, without any procedures such as balloon angioplasty or having a stent implanted. Making lifestyle changes won't remove blockages, but they have been proven to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Taking control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels will also aid in preventing the progression of atherosclerosis, as well as lower your risk of heart attacks and stroke (3). In autopsies of young American soldiers killed in action in the Korean and Vietnam wars, half to three-quarters had early forms of atherosclerosis (6). Even today, a large number of symptom less younger people have evidence of atherosclerosis. A 2001 study of 262 apparent healthy individual’s hearts was shocking. 52% had some atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was present in 85% of those older individuals. 50.17% of teenagers had early stages of atherosclerosis. None of them had symptoms, and a few had moderate to severe narrowing’s in any arteries. Most of them had early stages of the disease, detectable only by special tests. If you are 40 and generally healthy, you have about a 50%

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