Question

describe the etiology and pathogenesis of athersclerosis

Answer 1

Artherosclerosis:

Definition : Artherosclerosis is narrowing of the arteries due to plague buildup on arterial walls.

Etiology:

The major etilogical factors are

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• high blood sugar
• smoking
• inflammatory diseases like lupus, arthritis
• high dietary intake of trans fat.

The risk factors are classified to modifiable and non modifiable.

Modifiable factors are diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking,trans fat, abdominal obesity, diet,hypertension.

Non modifiable factors include advanced age, familial history, male, genetic abnormalities.

Pathophysiology:

The arteries carry the oxygenated blood from heart to different parts of the body. For the vital organs to function adequately an uninteruppted flow of blood is necessary. Artherosclerosis starts when the inner lining of blood vessel called endothelium is damaged, fostering the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the arterial wall. In order to clean this cholesterol, the body's defense mechanism send WBC which often gets stuck in this affected site.Over time, plague tends to build up made of cholesterol, macrophages, calcium and other substances from blood. Its also called artheroma. These plague clogs up the artery and thereby disrupts the blood flow to the vital organs. Some times these plagues burst open to which the platelet adheres itself forming clots. These clots may get logged in the minor vessels resulting in the life threathening complications like stoke,heart attack.