The difference between arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis

Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

Updated on September 02, 2024

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Arteriosclerosis is a common and important type among a group of vascular diseases known as arteriosclerosis. The common characteristics of various arterioscleroses include thickening and hardening of arterial walls, loss of elasticity, and narrowing of the lumen. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis characterized by lesions starting from the arterial intima, subsequently involving the accumulation of lipids and complex carbohydrates, bleeding, thrombosis, proliferation of fibrous tissues, and deposition of calcium, along with gradual degeneration and calcification of the arterial media. Since the lipids accumulated in the arterial intima appear yellowish and mushy, it is termed atherosclerosis.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

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Can people with arteriosclerosis drink alcohol?

Arteriosclerosis is a very common disease in daily life. After being diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, many patients often feel worried or anxious, and frequently ask their doctor if they can drink alcohol. The answer is yes, patients with arteriosclerosis can drink a moderate amount of alcohol, but should not drink excessively. As the saying goes, good liquor, when consumed properly, can be beneficial to health. Drinking in moderation can have certain health benefits. In addition, while drinking in moderation, it is also important to maintain good living habits, exercise regularly, quit smoking, and control weight to prevent the occurrence and progression of arteriosclerosis. (This should be done under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zeng Wei Jie

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What medicine to take for arteriosclerosis?

Drug therapy is an important component of the treatment for atherosclerosis and mainly includes the following types. The first is to regulate blood sugar and lipids, keeping them under control to slow down the process of atherosclerosis. The second involves taking antiplatelet medications to prevent the formation of blood clots, especially since some plaques, particularly soft plaques, are prone to rupture. For some patients who have already formed blood clots, thrombolytic therapy might be considered, but this is not typically necessary for all patients. Additionally, because high blood pressure can accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis, some patients also need to take antihypertensive drugs. For patients with narrowed blood vessels and severe symptoms, such as angina, vasodilators, including nitrates, might be used. Therefore, the treatment choices may vary depending on the severity of the condition, and the modes of drug therapy differ. (Note: Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

54sec

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Can arteriosclerosis be cured?

Atherosclerosis can only slow down its further progression and prevent the further occurrence of conditions such as coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, and lower limb arterial occlusion. This is because it is influenced by many factors, including both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. For example, modifiable factors include abnormal blood lipids, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and overweight obesity, which we can change. However, there are also non-modifiable factors such as age, genetics, and environmental factors. As age increases, the incidence of atherosclerosis significantly rises. Its pathological changes generally begin in childhood or adolescence, with symptoms becoming more apparent as age progresses.

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Written by Zeng Wei Jie

Cardiology

48sec

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How is arteriosclerosis treated?

To treat arteriosclerosis, we differentiate treatments based on the severity of the condition. For early-stage patients, we emphasize the control of lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar to potentially slow the progression of arteriosclerosis. For patients who have already suffered damage to target organs, such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, renal artery stenosis, or mesenteric artery stenosis, treatment might significantly rely on medication, and could possibly require the use of stents or even surgical bypass procedures. For the general population, we emphasize primary prevention, which includes a reasonable diet, appropriate exercise, and a balanced mental state to effectively prevent the disease.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

3min 21sec

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Causes of arteriosclerosis

The etiology of arteriosclerosis has not been fully determined, and studies indicate that arteriosclerosis is a multifactorial disease, caused by multiple factors acting at different stages, which are referred to as risk factors. The primary risk factors include the following: First, age and gender. Clinically, it is more common in middle-aged and elderly people over forty years old. After the age of forty-nine, the progression is fast, but early arteriosclerotic changes have also been found in autopsy of some young adults and even children. In recent years, clinical onset age tends to be younger. Compared to men, the incidence rate in women is lower, because estrogen has a protective effect against arteriosclerosis. Therefore, the incidence rate in women increases rapidly after menopause. Age and gender are unchangeable risk factors. Second, abnormal lipid levels, with abnormal lipid metabolism being the most important risk factor for arteriosclerosis. Third, hypertension, as the incidence of arteriosclerosis in patients with hypertension is significantly higher. Sixty to seventy percent of patients with coronary arteriosclerosis have hypertension, and patients with hypertension are three to four times more likely to have arteriosclerosis compared to those with normal blood pressure. Fourth, smoking, as the incidence and mortality rate of coronary arteriosclerosis in smokers are two to six times higher than in non-smokers, and it correlates positively with the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Secondhand smoke is also a risk factor. Fifth, diabetes and glucose intolerance, where not only is the incidence of arteriosclerosis in diabetic patients several times higher than in non-diabetics, but the progression of the disease is also rapid. Sixth, obesity, defined as being more than twenty percent over the standard weight or a BMI greater than twenty-four. Obesity is also a risk factor for arteriosclerosis. Seventh, family history, where a family history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia significantly increases the incidence of coronary heart disease. Various theories have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of coronary arteriosclerosis from different perspectives. These include the lipid infiltration theory, thrombosis theory, and smooth muscle cell clonal theory. In recent years, the endothelial damage response theory has gained more support, suggesting that the disease results from various risk factors ultimately damaging the arterial intima, and the formation of arteriosclerosis lesions is an inflammatory, fibro-proliferative response of the arteries to endothelial damage.