What May Aggravate or Risk Atherosclerosis?

What may aggravate or risk Atherosclerosis?

Tobacco use, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and diet can aggravate or risk Atherosclerosis. Dietary factors include low daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and excessive or completely no alcohol consumption.

Tobacco use, in other words, smoking, can damage and tighten blood vessels, raise cholesterol levels, and raise blood pressure. Also, smoking does not allow enough oxygen to reach the body's tissues. A smoker‘s risk of developing coronary artery disease is directly related to the amount of tobacco smoked daily.

A diet that is high in saturated fats causes LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels to increase in susceptible people. Cholesterol levels also increase as people age and are normally higher in men than in women, although levels increase in women after menopause. Several hereditary disorders result in high levels of cholesterol or other fats. People with these hereditary disorders can have extremely high levels of cholesterol and if untreated, may die of coronary artery disease at an early age.

Uncontrolled high diastolic or systolic blood pressure is a risk factor for Atherosclerosis. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease. These complications of High blood pressure are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications.

The risk of developing atherosclerosis is 2 to 6 times higher for people with diabetes. People who have type 1 diabetes tend to develop a disease that affects small arteries, such as those in the eyes, nerves, and kidneys, leading