Arteriosclerosis, also called atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries, is characterized by the loss of flexibility, strength and stretchiness of blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. Age and heredity, along with smoking, inactivity and poor diet, are common risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Arteries become hardened, inflamed and narrowed from the build up of plaque, causing blockages of blood flow. These obstructions result in serious damage when they occur in arteries leading to the heart, through the neck to the brain, or peripherally to the arms and legs.
Physical Exam
As part of a general check-up, blood work screens for atherosclerosis risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood sugar. Depending on where the suspected blockages are, blood pressure and pulse measurements may be taken on both arms and legs. The clinician may listen over the heart, abdomen and neck with a stethoscope or ultrasound doppler, looking for bruits, noises associated with abnormal blood flow through damaged arteries. The patient may be asked to hold his breath momentarily to facilitate listening, especially in the neck area. MedlinePlus states that atherosclerosis of the arteries supplying the heart can lead to chest pain and heart attack, while hardening of the carotid arteries in the neck may lead to stroke. Symptoms of numbness, pain and poor healing in the arms and legs indicate peripheral arterial disease, or reduced blood flow to these areas.
ECG
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, is a graph obtained by measuring electrical activity in the heart. Electrodes pasted to the chest are connected to a machine that produces a tracing. The pattern corresponds to rests and contractions of the four chambers of the heart, referred to as the P, Q, R, S, T and U waves. A flattened ST segment may indicate blockage in an artery leading to the heart. An ECG can also diagnose a previous heart attack or give valuable information about one that is taking place. MayoClinic.com advises that some atherosclerosis symptoms that are not noticeable on a resting ECG will become apparent when the test is done during exercise. A treadmill or stationary bicycle may be used for this procedure, which is known as an exercise stress test.
Imaging
An angiogram is a test used to determine the area and extent of the blockage of blood flow to the heart. By injecting radioactive dye through a central line inserted in the arm or leg, cardiac circulation can be mapped out in X-ray images. In a less invasive test, magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, uses radioactive tracers that are given intravenously. MRI can produce three dimensional images of major arteries inside the body. Computed tomagraphy, or CT, scans are able to measure the calcium content of plaque, which is helpful in determining the extent and risk of atherosclerosis. "The New York Times" reports that CT angiography is not as accurate as an angiogram in visualizing the coronary arteries.
