Atherosclerosis and Systemic Disease

As aging occurs, daily injuries to the blood vessel walls accumulate. The more risk factors present, the more injuries and the more rapid and worse the development of atherosclerotic plaques. As this happens, the artery walls become hardened and rigid (loss of elasticity), due to the accumulation of calcium, scar tissue, fat, cholesterol and inflammatory cells. This rigidity reduces the ability of the arteries to expand or open to accommodate the blood as it comes from the left ventricle. This arterial "hardening" is one of the main reasons why high blood pressure develops. Reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease reduces the risk for others disorders that include angina, memory loss, arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.

Ischemia and the Heart

"Ischemia" is defined as a lack of blood flow to a cell, tissue or organ.

"Hypoxia" is defined as a lack of oxygen to a cell, tissue or organ, usually resulting from reduced blood flow.

Most diseases can be attributed directly or indirectly to ischemia - a lack of blood flow (and diminished oxygen delivery) to the tissues. Reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease reduces the risk for other ischemic disorders such as angina, memory loss, arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke, etc.

Since oxygen is required to make the energy needed for muscles to contract, a reduction in blood flow and oxygen to the heart interferes with its contractions. A heart muscle starved of oxygen produces pain (angina) and is less able to pump blood efficiently to the body, especially during exercise (shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, pain in the leg muscles).

Atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries can cause:
- Improper contraction of the Left Ventricle (the main blood pumping muscle of the heart)

- Irregular beating of the heart (Arrythmia)

- Angina (a constricting, tight band around your chest or the heavy, painful feeling of an elephant sitting on your chest)

- Shortness of breath

The risk of Heart Attack is related to the degree of blockage of the coronary arteries. (American Journal of Medicine, 1996, 101 (Suppl 4A): 17S-24S).