Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 07 Aug 2024
Why Is Atherosclerosis Known As Silent Killer? Expert-Backed Ways To Prevent Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis ruptures the arteries, causing a blood clot, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke
Atherosclerosis – also known as coronary artery disease, limits the blood flow in your arteries - which deliver blood to your heart muscle, causing a heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, or even deadly heart failure.
Doctors say it happens because, over time, plaque – which includes cholesterol buildup in these arteries limits how much blood can reach your heart muscle. And so, "arteriosclerosis (happens) when arteries, which transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the body, become thick and inflexible, potentially limiting blood flow to organs and tissues. Normally, arteries are flexible and elastic, but over time, they can harden, leading to what is commonly known as hardening of the arteries,” Dr. Samanjoy Mukherjee, consultant, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Cardiac Science, Manipal Hospital told Times Now.
According to Dr. Mukherjee, atherosclerosis also ruptures the arteries, causing a blood clot. “Though often linked to heart issues, atherosclerosis can affect arteries anywhere in the body,” he said.
Why is atherosclerosis known as a silent killer?
Atherosclerosis is one of the biggest causes of cardiovascular disease and is known as “the silent killer” because plaque on the artery walls can build up over many years without any symptoms. “Mild atherosclerosis typically shows no symptoms, and they usually appear only when an artery is so narrowed or blocked that it cannot deliver enough blood to organs and tissues. Sometimes, a blood clot can completely obstruct blood flow, potentially causing a heart attack or stroke,” said Dr. Mukherjee.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis
Doctors say atherosclerosis is a huge public health issue as those who smoke, are obese or are diabetic may realize they are at risk, but others may falsely believe they are in good shape and remain unaware the silent disease is damaging their bodies.
A few symptoms of moderate to severe atherosclerosis vary depending on the affected arteries:
- If atherosclerosis affects your heart arteries, you may experience chest pain or pressure – known as angina
- When it impacts the arteries to your brain, symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking, slurred speech, temporary vision loss in one eye, or facial drooping, indicating a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which, if untreated, can lead to a life-threatening stroke
- In the arteries of your arms and legs, it can cause peripheral artery disease, with symptoms like leg pain when walking or claudication, or reduced blood pressure in the affected limb
- If it affects the arteries to your kidneys, you might develop high blood pressure or kidney failure
Risk Factors and Prevention
Understanding and managing risk factors plays an important role in preventing atherosclerosis, a few of which include:
- High cholesterol levels, which contribute to plaque formation
- High blood pressure
- Smoking which damages the lining of the arteries
- High blood sugar levels which damage blood vessels
- Obesity and weight gain
- Not exercising enough
- Not sleeping properly
- Anemia
How to prevent risk factors?
According to Dr. Mukherjee, the preventive measures include a healthy diet with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Also, "getting regular exercise and keeping the body weight in check. Keeping blood pressure under control. Risk comes down considerably by quitting smoking and avoiding tobacco,” he added.
If you have a risk factor, make sure to regularly monitor the levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar followed by regular checkups in case of discrepancy. Medications play an important role in treating atherosclerosis. Drugs for high cholesterol and blood pressure may slow or even prevent plaque from building up and thus reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes. “Diabetes should be kept under control with the use of appropriate medications since diabetes is one of the underpinning causes of increased risks for atherosclerosis,” he said.
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