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Arteriosclerosis: Narrowing of the blood vessels

As we get older, and when other factors like higher cholesterol levels come into play, fatty substances deposit in the arteries. Such substances can calcify, harden and thicken the arterial walls—a condition called arteriosclerosis. Isolated wall thickening is known as arteriosclerotic plaque. Severe wall thickening can narrow arteries—a condition known as stenosis—and impede blood flow so that less blood flows to the tissue behind the stenosis.


Development of stenosis.
 

Arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries

If the coronary arteries are severely narrowed (also known as occluded), the patient may feel chest pain (angina pectoris) during physical activity—especially in cold temperatures.
 

Arteriosclerosis of peripheral arteries

If the arteries in the pelvis or the legs are severely occluded, the patient may feel cramps or pain in the buttocks or the affected leg when walking. If the patient is standing still, the pain may go away—but return again after walking. These symptoms are referred to as intermittent claudication.
 

Treatment of Arteriosclerosis

For patients with chest pain or pain while walking, the physician will suggest an intervention to dilate the narrowed portion of the artery with a balloon catheter.

Alternatives to vessel dilatation may be pharmaceutical treatment or bypass surgery. This type of operation is performed under general anesthesia and bridges the narrowed vessel section with another vessel. The recovery time after surgery may last several weeks to a few months. However, patients are often free of symptoms for years after the bypass operation.