Aterosclerosis

Tipos de aterosclerosis

La aterosclerosis puede afectar a casi cualquier arteria de tamaño mediano o grande de su cuerpo, de la cabeza a los pies. Los bloqueos parciales o completos pueden restringir el flujo sanguíneo, más comúnmente a su corazón, cerebro, riñones, brazos, piernas o pelvis.

La aterosclerosis tiene diferentes nombres según la ubicación de las arterias afectadas. Los tipos incluyen:

• Carotid artery disease: Plaque buildup in your neck arteries reduces blood flow to your brain, which can lead to a stroke.
• Enfermedad de la arteria coronaria: The arteries supplying your heart become narrowed or blocked.
• Mesenteric artery ischemia: One of the three main arteries supplying your intestines is narrowed or blocked.
• Peripheral artery disease: This is a type of peripheral vascular disease that causes narrowing of the arteries carrying blood to your legs, arms and pelvis.
• Renal artery stenosis: This type of atherosclerosis impacts the blood supply to your kidneys.
• Vertebral artery disease: This affects arteries that carry blood to the back of your brain.

Factores de riesgo de aterosclerosis

Muchos factores pueden llevar a la acumulación de placa, incluidos sus genes, su estilo de vida y su historial de ciertas condiciones de salud. Cuanto más factores de riesgo tenga, mayor será la probabilidad de desarrollar aterosclerosis. Sin embargo, muchos de los factores de riesgo de la aterosclerosis se pueden prevenir.

Los factores de riesgo de la aterosclerosis incluyen:

• Age: Atherosclerosis progresses with age.
• Alcohol: Heavy drinking can increase your risk for atherosclerosis.
• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage your arteries, making them prone to plaque buildup.
• Diet: A diet high in saturated fat, excess sugars and processed or ultra processed foods can lead to accelerated atherosclerosis.
• Family history: Development and progression of atherosclerosis may be related to genetics. An inherited cholesterol disorder known as familial hypercholesterolemia also increases your risk.
• Alta presion sanguinea: High blood pressure can damage your arteries and is a leading preventable risk factor for atherosclerosis in the United States.
• Inflammatory diseases: Diseases such as Artritis reumatoide, endometriosis and psoriasis cause high levels of inflammation, which can damage arteries.
• Excess weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease, as well as diabetes and other health conditions.
• Menopause: Women are at an increased risk after menopause due to lower levels of the hormone estrogen, which has a protective effect.
• Pregnancy complications: Gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) are both linked to atherosclerosis.
• Race or ethnicity: People who are Black and South Asian are at a higher risk than White individuals.
• Sedentary lifestyle: A lack of physical activity may lead to cardiometabolic complications, including high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and being obese or overweight
• Smoking: Smoking and second-hand smoke damage your blood vessels.
• Unhealthy cholesterol levels: High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C, or “bad”) cholesterol can promote plaque formation.

Complicaciones

La aterosclerosis puede provocar bloqueos en las arterias que impiden que la sangre rica en oxígeno llegue a un órgano o extremidad, lo que causa complicaciones graves y potencialmente mortales. Estas complicaciones pueden aparecer de repente y sin previo aviso.

Entre las complicaciones se incluyen:

• Blood clots: A blood clot can form if plaque bursts, blocking an artery.
• Ataque al corazón: A full or partial blockage of a coronary artery can cause a heart attack, where your heart tissue does not get enough oxygen.
• Limb loss: Problems with blood flow to your extremities can lead to the need to amputate part of an arm or leg.
• Ischemic stroke: An ischemic stroke is a medical emergency, usually caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in your brain.
• Vascular dementia: Reduced blood flow to your brain can result in loss of mental function.

¿Cómo se diagnostica la aterosclerosis?

El diagnóstico temprano de la aterosclerosis es importante para prevenir complicaciones graves como un ataque al corazón o un derrame cerebral. Su médico utilizará una combinación de herramientas para evaluar su riesgo, incluyendo un examen físico, análisis de sangre e imágenes del corazón. Si no tiene síntomas, es posible que utilicen una calculadora de riesgos para estimar sus posibilidades de desarrollar una enfermedad cardíaca.

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