What Are "Hardened Arteries"?
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Hardening of the arteries (also known as
arteriosclerosis) is a condition that causes blood vessels in the body to harden and thicken. The condition is most often caused by the slow buildup of
plaque on the inside walls of the arteries.
Hardening of the arteries is responsible for the majority of deaths in the United States.
Several different conditions can cause hardening of the arteries. In most cases, it is caused by
atherosclerosis, a disease caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the inside walls of the arteries. It may also be caused by conditions such as focal calcific arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is hardening and narrowing of medium-size and larger blood vessels, such as the aorta and those found in the heart (coronary arteries), brain, and legs.
Atherosclerosis is by far the most common type of hardening of the arteries. It is caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the inside walls of arteries. Plaque is made up of fat,
cholesterol,
calcium, and other substances found in your blood. As it grows, the buildup of plaque narrows the inside of the artery and, in time, may restrict blood flow.
For more about this type of hardening of the arteries, see the full eMedTV articles listed below:
Focal Calcific Arteriosclerosis
Focal calcific
arteriosclerosis is a form of hardening of the arteries in which
calcium builds up in the middle part of the blood vessels. This condition is common in the arteries of the upper and lower extremities, as well as the genitals, for both men and women. As a result of this buildup of calcium, the arteries in people with this type of arteriosclerosis become extremely stiff. However, unlike
atherosclerosis, the inside of the blood vessel does not narrow. Therefore, blood flow is not decreased and symptoms usually do not occur. In fact, for most people, this type of hardening of the arteries has no impact. Focal calcific arteriosclerosis can cause problems when it occurs along with atherosclerosis or when calcium gets deposited onto the aortic valve in the heart.
Focal calcific arteriosclerosis is more common in older people, people with
diabetes, and those taking corticosteroids.
Arteriolosclerosis is a type of artery hardening that affects the inside and middle layer of arteries and smaller arteries known as arterioles. The blood vessels most affected are those in the:
Arteriosclerosis Obliterans and Hardened Arteries
Arteriosclerosis obliterans is a type of hardening of the arteries that affects blood vessels in the arms, legs, and pelvis. Because it is caused by atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis obliterans is more commonly known as atherosclerosis of the extremities or peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Arteriosclerosis obliterans is the most common type of peripheral vascular disease, which is a group of conditions that affect the arteries and veins in the extremities (arms, legs, and pelvis).
If the arteries that supply a person's legs, pelvis, or arms are affected by arteriosclerosis obliterans, he or she may experience symptoms that include:
- Claudication (pain, ache, or cramping in the muscles that occurs during exercise but improves with rest)
- Cold or numb feeling in the feet or toes, especially at night.
