Symptoms

 The main ‘convict’ of atherosclerosis is the deposition of lipids caused by excessive intake of oily foods. Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring  molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others.

           

In atherosclerosis, lipids are deposited in the inner walls of the arterioles. This may occur in many adults. Continued deposition of lipids may lead to one or more atherosclerosis. The following are effects in of deposition of lipids:

•        Hypertension or typically known as high blood pressure. This is because due to multiplication of cells of the lining of arteries and arterioles producing a rough, thickened, inner surface in place of the normal smooth lining, the heart must pump harder to overcome increased frictional resistance to blood flow provided by the roughened surface of narrowed vessels. Hypertension causes the heart to work harder to pump blood and it becomes fatigued. The left ventricle may also enlarge and weaken. The heart therefore fails to pump out all blood within it at each beat. Blood begins to collect as a pool, causing severe chest pain or death due to congestive heart failure.

•       Degeneration of middle layers of cells in the walls of arteries and arterioles along with continued lipid deposition. Deposition of hard calcified deposits, known as plaque, which will further reduce elasticity of the arteries and arterioles, causing more severe hypertension.
  
• Haemorrhage .Prolonged hypertension due to atherosclerosis sometimes causes an  artery or arterioles to burst. This haemorrhage (leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues) particularly affects the kidney and brain. Haemorrhage in brain is often fatal for most adults. Hypertension may also damage other delicate tissues, such as heart valves, causing severe disruption in blood transportation.

• Thrombosis (formation of thrombi or small blood clots in blood vessels) caused by attachment of blood platelets onto the inner lining of blood vessels which is roughened by abnormal cell division or by plague formation.
  

•       Occlusion (complete or partial blockage) of the arteries or arterioles either by deposition of lipids and plaque, or by thrombi blocking the blood vessels.Occlusion may cause either partial or complete oxygen starvation which disrupts tissue function. Coronary occlusion can be divided into several stages:

1.       Partial coronary occlusion may cause angina (angina pectoris) which is intense pain in the chest which may spread to the shoulders, neck and jaw especially when a person is under stress or is too active immediately after a meal. In regions where occlusion persists, bands of dead tissue, called infarcts formed. Occlusion of a small coronary blood vessel or temporary blockage of a larger one may cause ventricular fibrillation (irregular, uncoordinated, rapid beating) which often leads to myocardial infarction (most commonly, heart attack).
2.       Complete coronary occlusion is a blockage of a major coronary blood vessel, and may result in cardiac arrest ( heart failure) and death. Occlusion may also occur in cerebral vessels of the brain causing bands of dead tissue called cerebral infarcts, the formation of which is known as stroke. Strokes are often fatal or lead to varying degrees of disability ,for example, paralysis, loss of speech, etc.

•  Stroke can be divided into major and minor :
• Major stroke

     The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm and leg,

    most often on one side of the body. Other symptoms include :

    • numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

    • confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech

    • difficulty seeing with one or both eyes                              

    • difficulty in  walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

    • severe headache with no known cause

    • fainting or unconsciousness.

• Minor stroke

      A minor stroke is also called a transient ischaemic attack or TIA. The features of minor

      stroke  may be similar to those of major strokes, but they are milder and last only a short

      period , usually less than an hour. Often, the person recovers without treatment. These “mini-

      strokes” are warning signs; most people who have had one or more minor strokes will later

      have a major stroke.