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- What is atherosclerosis?
- Symptoms of atherosclerosis
- Causes of atherosclerosis
- Prevention of atherosclerosis
- Risk factors for atherosclerosis
- Complications of atherosclerosis
- When to see a doctor about atherosclerosis
- Diagnosis of atherosclerosis
- Conventional treatment of atherosclerosis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of atherosclerosis
- Living with atherosclerosis
- Caring for someone with atherosclerosis
Initial diagnosis of atherosclerosis involves the following tests:
- Medical history - the doctor will ask a series of questions about symptoms, such as the onset, duration and severity and if a certain part of the body is more affected than other parts. The doctor will also ask if you you smoke, have a sedentary lifestyle or have any of the other risk factors for atherosclerosis
- Physical examination - the doctor will do a simple physical examination, including listening to your heart with a stethoscope, measuring your blood pressure and measuring your pulse to determine if it is weak at all and to view any possible signs of the condition on your body
After initial consultation, the following test is normally requested, to check if there is any underlying heart disease:
- Blood test - this is the most common test that is requested after initial consultation, to determine blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine, glucose and possibly C-reactive protein
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If the initial diagnosis warrants it, the doctor may also request a number of other tests to confirm (or rule out) atherosclerosis:
- Angiogram - an angiogram involves the injection of a special dye which is then viewed under a special x-ray (while you are lying down). The x-ray machine shows images of the dye as it circulates through your blood, which can effectively show any narrowing of arteries or blockages in any arteries
- CT scan - a computerised tomography (CT) scan involves lying down on a table that goes into a large circular opening that takes cross-sectional images of the arteries that may be affected. The CT scan can provide images of hardening and narrowing of large arteries, as well as aneurysms and calcium deposits in the artery walls
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) - an electrocardiogram is a test which records electrical activity of the heart and involves being hooked up with electrical wires to a special machine that records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG can reveal if the heart rhythm is normal, if there has been a previous heart attack, as well as an impending heart attack
- Other imaging tests - there are a few other diagnostic imagining tests that can be used to diagnose atherosclerosis, such as doppler ultrasound, which is a special type of ultrasound that is used to measure blood pressure at specific points as this can provide information about the artery blockage and the ankle brachial index, which is used for diagnosing blockages or narrowing in the arteries in the legs or arms and involves measuring the blood pressure at the ankle with the blood pressure in the arm and if this difference is abnormal, it can indicate atherosclerosis
- Ultrasound - an ultrasound is a diagnostic scan which uses radio waves to provide images of the soft tissues of the body. An ultrasounds involves lying down and having a radiology technical use a special probe on the body, which is hooked up to a special machine that provides images of the parts of the body under the skin it is rolling over. An ultrasound can provide images of hardening and narrowing of large arteries, as well as aneurysms and calcium deposits in the artery walls
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
