Atherosclerosis: A Case Study

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the commonest heart disease in the United States1. Approximately, 29% of patients with Myocardial Infarction ( MI ) present with ST- elevation Myocardial Infarction ( STEMI )2. STEMI is the result of complete occlusion of a major epicardial coronary artery due to thrombus formation. STEMI from a small coronary artery presenting as substantial EKG abnormalities similar to occlusion of a major artery and hemodynamic instability is a rare entity. The epidemiology, typical clinical presentation, outcomes, and optimal management in this group of patients are not sufficiently known.

Two experimental systems will be used to determine if Mad1 overexpression promotes atherosclerosis. Both sets of experiments are routinely performed in the laboratory of Dr. Lian-Wang Guo and will be performed in collaboration with him. First, a mechanical injury model will be used to determine if elevated levels of Mad1 promote intimal hyperplasia. To generate the mechanical injury, mice will be anesthetized and undergo bilateral endoluminal injury to the femoral artery by passing a 0.25 mm diameter angioplasty guidewire 3 times 56. 1 and 3 days post-injury, protein expression will be determined by immunoblot. HA and Mad1 antibodies will be used to measure expression and localization of endogenous and inducible Mad1. PCNA will be used as a marker of VSMC proliferation.

Having hypertension and leaving it untreated is very serious, and can lead to many serious health issues from heart attack, kidney failure, stroke even death. Hypertension increases the pressure of blood that goes through your arteries, which over time will weaken them and can cause a bulge that can lead to an aneurism. It can also cause a stroke due to the arteries not allowing enough oxygenated blood through. Hypertension causes damage to your arteries and blood vessels that it can also cause kidney damage and disease a where from kidney failure to kidney scaring and kidney artery aneurism. There are many things that can happen if you leave your blood pressure unattended to. Mainly it must do with your arteries and blood vessels due to the excess pressure that your blood pumps into the vessels and leaves less oxygenated blood which leads to issues with your brain.

The following summary is an updated case study of a 47 year old male patient, Jim who was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. The patient did receive information on what CAD is and was informed that test were needed to fully diagnose and be evaluated for underlying conditions (high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and blockage. I will discuss the type of test needed for this condition and tests for any underlying conditions that are related to this disease. The type of treatment needed to control and lower his risk factor. I will also give the patient information about complementary and alternative medicine so the patient will be well informed about different types of treatment. The patient will be informed about the prognosis of the disease, and the options that the patient has to succeed in the changes in his lifestyle that are needed.

The reality is that high blood pressure is a condition that makes the heart work harder than normal and if left untreated, it scars and damages your arteries and can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and fatty build ups in the arteries, called atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which include CHD, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is the leading cause of mortality in populations, particularly in the diabetic one. DM and PAD are both CAD equivalents ("coronary equivalents"). PAD is more common among those aged 50 years and older, with approximately 1 in 20 Americans in this age group affected [1].

If the plaque narrows the lumen by more than 75%, blood flow is impaired and causes ischemia. Oxygen deprivation forces the myocardium to shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. The shift leads to

Atherosclerotic disease is caused by lipid deposits that calcified and turns into plaque which buildup and stick in the arteries. The plaque can break and lead to serious problems such as heart attack, stroke, and possibly even death. Factors such as high cholesterol in the blood, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure all increases the risk for atherosclerotic complications. According to the American Heart Association (2017), the biggest contributor to heart disease is the lack of commitment to a heart healthy lifestyle. Therefore, lifestyle modifications such as healthy diet and exercise can play an important role in helping prevent cardiovascular disease.

Macrophage which is now foam-like accumulates on the blood vessel to form visible fatty streak which then undergoes apoptosis. The plaque continues to grow and hardens narrowing the arteries. This ruptures and causes a blood clot which limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body causing a heart attack, stroke or even death. Factors that are known to predispose to atherosclerosis are physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking and hypertension which increase the chances by two-fold by damaging the vascular endothelium. Experimental studies have just shown that excess blood levels of iron can lead to atherosclerosis (Guyton and Hall, 2011).

- Blood clot may form at the plaque-rupture site — obstructing the flow of blood or breaking free and plugging an artery downstream. If blood flow to part of your heart stops, you'll have a heart attack.

Atherosclerosis can be a serious condition; it is when the arteries become clogged by fatty substances such as plaques or atheroma. This causes arteries to become narrow and harden which can restrict blood flow preventing organs from functioning properly (Williams 2000).

As blood pressure rises and “the blood moves with enough force, [it] increases the chances of tearing that plaque loose” and rupturing it (Sapolsky, 2004, p. 45). When a rupture occurs, the material that has become loose, a blood clot known as a thrombus, can pose as much more of a threat to a person’s life than the initial build up of plaque. If the thrombus blocks a coronary vessel then the heart muscle is unable to receive blood that is full of needed oxygen and other essential nutrients, this is known as cardiac ischemia (Steffen, Lecture 11). Ischemia can cause angina and discomfort. Another possible result of a blocked coronary artery is a heart attack, which can lead to death, and if a blood vessel in the brain is clogged then a stoke will occur.

Atherosclerosis is caused by a buildup of fat and other substances in the blood vessel wall. Fat that accumulates will harden and form plaque. These plaques that inhibit blood circulation to the heart.

Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease in intimal layer is thickened there by preventing the flow of oxygen rich blood passing through them to cardiovascular organs and other body parts.

Atherosclerosis is when the arteries slowly harden due to a buildup of cholesterol, fatty substances, and cellular waste, also known as plaque. Medium or large arteries can