Question

Just how early do these fatty streaks start to appear? Atherosclerosis may start even before birth. Italian researchers looked inside arteries taken from miscarriages and premature newborns who died shortly after birth. It turns out that the arteries of fetuses whose mothers had high _______ cholesterol levels were more likely to contain arterial lesions.

Answer 1

Atherosclerosis is a disease marked by the buildup of fatty 'streaks' in blood vessels, a process potentially initiated before birth. A combination of genetic and lifestyle factors facilitate the progression of these streaks into plaques, contributing to cardiovascular diseases. Treatments usually focus on minimizing further plaque buildup and managing existing conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty 'streaks' or plaques inside arteries, is a process that may begin early in life, even potentially before birth. This is particularly true when mothers have high-blood cholesterol levels.

Throughout life, this condition can slowly progress due to a combination of genetic factors and lifestyle habits, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, high alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, among others. Additionally, stress and hyperlipidemia - high circulating levels of lipids in the blood - can also contribute to the disease's progression.

While arteriosclerosis refers generally to the 'hardening of the arteries,' atherosclerosis specifically denotes the buildup of these fatty plaques which can lead to various cardiovascular diseases. There are numerous methods to treat atherosclerosis including medication, dietary and lifestyle modifications, angioplasty with a balloon catheter, the insertion of a stent, or coronary bypass surgery.

Learn more about Atherosclerosis