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Home :: Family Health :: Atheroma Atheroma - Atheroma symptom, treatment, causes
The term Atheroma used to describe arterial disease in which deposits of fatty material (lipoprotein) result in occlusion (blockage) or constriction (narrowing) of the artery, and a reduction in blood flow. The fatty deposit is called an atheroma or an atheromatous plaque. Although the sequelae of the disease are felt only after middle age, the process begins in early youth. Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality in affluent Societies. When blood vessels of the heart are affected, it results in Ischemic Heart Disease which can lead to Acute Myocardial Infarction. When blood vessels in the brain are affected, it can cause a stroke. The first change that occurs in the artery is a fatty streak in its wall. This becomes gradually populated with white blood cells. The matrix (holding tissue) between muscle cells of the wall combines with the fatty deposit and weaves a fibrous covering around it. This is the atheroma. When this fibrous envelope ruptures or cracks, platelets invade it, forming a clot or thrombus. A large thrombus can completely block sff blood flow. More rarely, bits of the thrombus can break off into the blood stream as emboli, and cause blocks in more distant, and smaller, blood vessels. . The block in an artery results in cutting off blood flow. The tissue that is thus impaired will die from lack of oxygen unless the blood supply is resumed. The injury that this hypoxic tissue sustains is called an infarct.; Atheroma is also known as atherosclerotic plaque, which arises due to the degenerative accumulation of lipid-containing plaques on the innermost layer of the wall of an artery. Patches of atheroma are often called 'plaques' of atheroma. It causes death from heart diease, cerebral infarction, and ischaemia of the lower limbs, acting by narrowing of the lumen within arteries. Associated with atherosclerosis, atheroma has the effect of narrowing the lumen (channel) of the artery, thus restricting blood flow. Patches of atheroma are like small fatty lumps that develop within the inside lining of arteries (blood vessels). Atheroma is the root cause of a number of cardiovascular diseases. That is, diseases of the heart or blood vessels. These are present in all children, and many disappear with time. Some however persist and may trigger atheroma. Atheroma is characterised by thickening and fatty degeneration of the inner coat of the arteries. The accumulation (swelling) is always between the endothelium lining and the smooth muscle wall central region (media) of the arterial tube. Collectively, the process of atheroma development within an individual is called atherogenesis and the overall result of the disease process is termed atherosclerosis . This disease is the largest cause of death in western countries and hence one of the most important topics in such societies. Symptoms of AtheromaSome common sign and symptoms of Atheroma are as follows:
Causes of AtheromaHere is the list of some of the causes of Atheroma:
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