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Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis {ahr-tir-ee-oh-skluh-roh'-sis} is
a term used to describe several diseases that involve the cardiovascular system
and the many arteries and vessels which make it up. Atherosclerosis invades both
of the superficial and deep layers of the vessel walls. Arteriosclerosis is
often referred to as "hardening of the arteries." In fact, interestingly enough,
the word arteriosclerosis is a Greek word which actually means "hardening of the
arteries."
Arteriosclerosis occurs over a period of many years
during which the arteries of the cardiovascular system develop areas which
become hard and brittle. Vessels become thickened. There is a loss of
elasticity. It can involve the arteries of the cardiovascular system, the brain,
kidneys, upper and lower extremities. This occurs because of the deposition of
calcium in their walls.
Arteriosclerosis differs from atherosclerosis,
which involves the build up of fatty deposits in the innermost lining of large
and medium-sized arteries. Atherosclerosis often leads to coronary heart
disease, strokes, and other disorders because of the occurrence of blood clots
which form in the narrowed arteries; harden of the arteries, on the other hand
occur only in advanced stages.
When
arteriosclerosis involves the medium and smaller of the body, it is usually
referred to as Monckeberg's, arteriosclerosis. This involves the deposition of
calcium in the internal layers of the arteries of the lower extremities. This
generally leads to an increase blood pressure.
A third
form of the disease is arteriolar sclerosis which involves both of the inner and
medial layers of smaller arteries the limbs, eyes, and internal organs. This
condition causes decreased blood flow to these tissues which can create
circulatory problems, peripheral vascular disease, impaired circulation to the
eyes and kidneys causing blindness and kidney failure.
Arteriosclerosis cannot only narrow arteries but it
can also cause nodules in the arterial walls and ultimately obliterate the canal
of the artery entirely.
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