Medical dictionary. Atherosclerosis Definition. Atherosclerosis is the build up of a waxy plaque on the inside of blood vessels. In Greek, athere means gruel, and skleros means hard. Hardening And Patch Management' title='Hardening And Patch Management' />Atherosclerosis is often called arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis from the Greek arteria, meaning artery is a general term for hardening of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis can occur in several forms, including atherosclerosis. Description. Atherosclerosis, a progressive process responsible for most heart disease, is a type of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. An artery is made up of several layers an inner lining called the endothelium, an elastic membrane that allows the artery to expand and contract, a layer of smooth muscle, and a layer of connective tissue. Increase the security of your Linux operating system by following these 23 hardening tips. White Paper Data Diode vs Firewall Feasibility. Introduction The growing adoption of IP network protocols within industrial plant control systems PCS. Securing and Hardening Red Hat Linux Production Systems A Practical Guide to Basic Linux Security in Production Enterprise Environments www. This chapter covers the following subjects Hardening Operating SystemsService packs, patches, hotfixesThis section details what you need to know to make your. Arteriosclerosis is a broad term that includes a hardening of the inner and middle layers of the artery. It can be caused by normal aging, by high blood pressure, and by diseases such as diabetes. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that affects only the inner lining of an artery. It is characterized by plaque deposits that block the flow of blood. Plaque is made of fatty substances, cholesterol, waste products from the cells, calcium, and fibrin, a stringy material that helps clot blood. The plaque formation process stimulates the cells of the artery wall to produce substances that accumulate in the inner layer. Fat builds up within these cells and around them, and they form connective tissue and calcium. The inner layer of the artery wall thickens, the arterys diameter is reduced, and blood flow and oxygen delivery are decreased. Plaques can rupture or crack open, causing the sudden formation of a blood clot thrombosis. Atherosclerosis can cause a heart attack if it completely blocks the blood flow in the heart coronary arteries. It can cause a stroke if it completely blocks the brain carotid arteries. Atherosclerosis can also occur in the arteries of the neck, kidneys, thighs, and arms, causing kidney failure or gangrene and amputation. Causes and symptoms. Atherosclerosis can begin in the late teens, but it usually takes decades to cause symptoms. Some people experience rapidly progressing atherosclerosis during their thirties, others during their fifties or sixties. Atherosclerosis is complex. Its exact cause is still unknown. It is thought that atherosclerosis is caused by a response to damage to the endothelium from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cigarette smoking. A person who has all three of these risk factors is eight times more likely to develop atherosclerosis than is a person who has none. Physical inactivity, diabetes, and obesity are also risk factors for atherosclerosis. High levels of the amino acid homocysteine and abnormal levels of protein coated fats called lipoproteins also raise the risk of coronary artery disease. These substances are the targets of much current research. The role of triglycerides, another fat that circulates in the blood, in forming atherosclerotic plaques is unclear. High levels of triglycerides are often associated with diabetes, obesity, and low levels of high density lipoproteins HDL cholesterol. The more HDL good cholesterol, in the blood, the less likely is coronary artery disease. These risk factors are all modifiable. Non modifiable risk factors are heredity, sex, and age. Risk factors that can be changed Cigarettetobacco smoke Smoking increases both the chance of developing atherosclerosis and the chance of dying from coronary heart disease. Second hand smoke may also increase risk. High blood cholesterol Cholesterol, a soft, waxy substance, comes from foods such as meat, eggs, and other animal products and is produced in the liver. Age, sex, heredity, and diet affect cholesterol. Total blood cholesterol is considered high at levels above 2. L and borderline at 2. L. High risk levels of low density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol begin at 1. L. High triglycerides Most fat in food and in the body takes the form of triglycerides. Blood triglyceride levels above 4. L have been linked to coronary artery disease in some people. Triglycerides, however, are not nearly as harmful as LDL cholesterol. High blood pressure Blood pressure of 1. Physical inactivity Lack of exercise increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Diabetes mellitus The risk of developing atherosclerosis is seriously increased for diabetics and can be lowered by keeping diabetes under control. Most diabetics die from heart attacks caused by atherosclerosis. Obesity Excess weight increases the strain on the heart and increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis even if no other risk factors are present. Risk factors that cannot be changed Heredity People whose parents have coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, or stroke at an early The progression of atherosclerosis. Illustration by Hans Cassady. The high rate of severe hypertension among African Americans puts them at increased risk. Sex Before age 6. After age 6. 0, the risk is equal among men and women. Age Risk is higher in men who are 4. Symptoms differ depending upon the location of the atherosclerosis. In the coronary heart arteries Chest pain, heart attack, or sudden death. In the carotid brain arteries Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of speech, or blindness. In the femoral leg arteries Disease of the blood vessels in the outer parts of the body peripheral vascular disease causes cramping and fatigue in the calves when walking. In the renal kidney arteries High blood pressure that is difficult to treat. Diagnosis. Physicians may be able to make a diagnosis of atherosclerosis during a physical exam by means of a stethoscope and gentle probing of the arteries with the hand palpation. More definite tests are electrocardiography, echocardiography or ultrasonography of the arteries for example, the carotids, radionuclide scans, and angiography. An electrocardiogram shows the hearts activity. Electrodes covered with conducting jelly are placed on the patients body. They send impulses of the heart to a recorder. The test takes about 1. Exercise electrocardiography stress test is conducted while the patient exercises on a treadmill or a stationary bike. It is performed in a physicians office or an exercise laboratory and takes 1. Echocardiography, cardiac ultrasound, uses sound waves to create an image of the hearts chambers and valves. A technician applies gel to a hand held transducer, presses it against the patients chest, and images are displayed on a monitor. This technique cannot evaluate the coronary arteries directly. They are too small and are in motion with the heart. Severe coronary artery disease, however, may cause abnormal heart motion that is detected by echocardiography. Crayola Art Studio 2 more. Performed in a cardiology outpatient diagnostic laboratory, the test takes 3. Ultrasonography is also used to assess arteries of the neck and thighs. Radionuclide angiography and thallium or sestamibi scanning enable physicians to see the blood flow through the coronary arteries and the heart chambers. Radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream. A device that uses gamma rays to produce an image of the radioactive material gamma camera records pictures of the heart. Program Devize Constructii'>Program Devize Constructii. Radionuclide angiography is usually performed in a hospitals nuclear medicine department and takes 3.