Arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis)
Studies of mummies have shown that atherosclerosis was a frequent disease in ancient Egypt.
Recent findings from laboratory tests show that the possible causes for the emergence of this disease in the autoimmune area can be found.
When atherosclerosis occurs after a small vessel injury to adhesion of monocytes (a subspecies of the white blood cells) to the vessel wall. There they are to scavenger cells (macrophages) and take up LDL cholesterol. They form wall thickening (thrombus), which reduce the diameter of the vessels at these points. The underlying tissue is now bad blood. If there is a detachment of such a thrombus may then smaller vessels, for example, close a coronary vessel. Thus the interest behind this area is completely cut off from blood supply.
Frequency
- Of young people still find this to atherosclerotic changes. Clinically, patients are conspicuous but usually only from the middle and old age.
- Atherosclerosis (atherosclerosis) and its consequences in the industrial nations, the most common cause of death well over half the medical care for the available financial resources are spent on this disease.
Risk factors can not be influenced
- Family history
- Age
- Male sex
Risk factors influenced
- Dyslipidemia (eg high LDL cholesterol)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus ("sugar disease")
- Cigarette smoking
Possible consequences
- Angina pectoris
- Heart attack
- Sudden cardiac death