Atherosclerosis Risk.pdf

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of death in western nations, representing a major issue in vascular medicine, with its systemic nature evident from the frequent concurrence of coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease, leading to atherothrombosis. Epidemiological studies have shown that the distribution, extent, and progression of atherosclerosis are influenced by cardiovascular risk factors, including cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow, and can lead to coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and tissue damage. The severity of atherosclerotic disease can be assessed through the prevalence of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease, as well as angiographic evaluation of lower-limb infection. Arteriosclerosis, a related condition, occurs when blood vessels become thick and rigid, restricting blood flow to organs and tissues, and can be evaluated using femoral-ankle pulse wave velocity. Both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis contribute to vascular aging and cardiovascular disease risk, with lower-limb atherosclerotic disease being a common finding among the elderly, affecting 7-14.4% of men and 3-14.1% of women over 60 years old.