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Conditions & Diseases: Cardiovascular System

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Atherosclerosis

See Also:
Atherosclerosis: Introduction, Types & Pictures
Atherosclerosis: Causes & Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis: Signs & Symptoms
Atherosclerosis Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Atherosclerosis: Treatment & Prevention Options

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis are not visible until the arteries are severely narrowed or blocked. Signs and symptoms differ depending on the arteries affected by atherosclerosis.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):
Once the arteries supplying blood to heart are blocked, the cells in the heart begin to die and a heart attack may occur. The most common symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are:

  1. Chest pain with a heavy, squeezing or crushing sensation with possible burning or stabbing pain.
  2. Abdominal, neck, back, jaw or shoulder and arm pain.
  3. Nausea and vomiting sensation.
  4. Fatigue
  5. Weakness
  6. Perspiration
  7. Shortness of breath
  8. Depression and anxiety. (1)

Carotid Artery Disease or Cerebrovascular Disease:
Cerebrovascular disease is caused due to reduced supply of oxygen rich blood to brain leading to transient ischemic attack (meaning sudden loss of brain function and complete recovery within a day) and stroke. Some of the symptoms include:

  1. Paralytic stroke on one side of the body.
  2. Inability to comprehend speech, or to have garbled speech.
  3. Loss of vision in one of the eyes.
  4. Muscle weakness
  5. Impairment of facial muscles.
  6. Poor coordination
  7. Involuntary and jerky movements on one side of the body.
  8. Rapid and iterative involuntary eye movement.
  9. Vertigo (1)
 

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD):
Accumulation of plaque in the arteries supplying blood to the hands and feet lead to PAD. Some of the symptoms of PAD include:

  1. Pain, cramps, numbness and sense of fatigue in the muscles of the limbs.
  2. Diminished pulses in the hands and feet.
  3. Reduced muscle mass
  4. Blowing sounds that can be heard with the help of a stethoscope indicating turbulence in blood flow (also called as “Bruits”).
  5. Loss of hair
  6. Thickening of nails
  7. Smooth and shiny skin surface.
  8. Gangrene (1)

Abdominal Angina and Bowel Infarction:
Narrowing of the intestinal arteries leads to abdominal angina and bowel infarction. Some of the symptoms are:

  1. Cramping pain in the middle of the abdomen.
  2. Severe abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea or abdominal swelling. (3)

See Also:
Atherosclerosis: Introduction, Types & Pictures
Atherosclerosis: Causes & Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis: Signs & Symptoms
Atherosclerosis Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Atherosclerosis: Treatment & Prevention Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
01/12/2011