The arteries are the vessels that carry oxygen and other nutrients from heart to the other parts of body. Plaques are patches of fatty tissue that collect in the arteries and damage artery walls. As the fatty deposits accumulate, they reduce the elesticity of the blood vessels and narrow the passageway, thus interfering with the blood flow. The Atherosclerotic vascular disease leads to decreased circulation in the blood vessels of the brain, heart and extremeties. Signs and symptoms of Atheroslerosis Symptoms are often absent until atherosclerosis reaches advanced stages.
Symptoms depend on which part of the body has decreased blood flow, and the extent of the disease.
Positive family history Diabetes mellitus Cigarette smoking Obesity Sedentary lifestyle Stress Oxidative Stress High levels of plasma homocysteine Oxidative stress Oxygen, the most critical nutrient for life, is the main source of free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive oxygen fragments which are created by normal chemical processes in the cells. The only way it can replace the missing electron is to take it from another molecule. Now, if that other molecule happens to be a part of one of your healthy cells, then the cell will be damaged possibly leading to a number of diseases or worse inducing it to grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. Increased production of free radicals in the body is known as oxidative stress.