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<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nMelbourne Heart Care is dedicated to providing comprehensive care and support for those people diagnosed with atherosclerosis. Our team of experienced cardiologists are here to help you understand your condition, manage your heart health and guide you towards a healthier future.<\/p>\n
Contact Melbourne Heart Care<\/a> for a personalised treatment plan to manage your atherosclerosis.<\/p>\n Atherosclerosis develops slowly over time and causes hardening of the arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients throughout your body. It is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease and puts people at an increased risk of heart attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n It can come in several different forms:<\/p>\n Atherosclerosis symptoms – the atherosclerotic disease develops over time, with lipid and plaque build-up gradually causing a reduced flow of blood through the artery.<\/p><\/div>\n Atherosclerosis begins with a gradual buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances on the inner walls of your arteries. Over time, these deposits, known as plaques, can harden and narrow your arteries, reducing blood flow or even resulting in blocked arteries. An unhealthy diet and smoking are two of the biggest contributors to fatty deposits, plaque buildup and high cholesterol. By changing these unhealthy choices you can significantly lower your risk of developing atherosclerosis.<\/p><\/div>\n These are risks that you can change to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis:<\/p>\n These are things that you cannot change:<\/p>\n Some medical conditions can increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis:<\/p>\n Atherosclerosis is often referred to as a \u201csilent\u201d disease, as in the early stages you may not experience any symptoms. Once the blood vessels have narrowed over 70%, blood flow is significantly restricted or a blood clot completely blocks the blood vessels, symptoms of atherosclerosis will emerge.<\/p>\n This means that most people may not notice atherosclerosis symptoms until it results in a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke. The specific symptoms of atherosclerosis vary depending on which arteries are affected:<\/p>\n Recognising and addressing these symptoms promptly is vital for managing atherosclerosis and preventing complications.<\/p>\n There are several complications associated with atherosclerosis that constitute medical emergencies. These arise when a plaque buildup bursts, causing a blood clot to form and completely block blood flow in that blood vessel, or travel to a different part of the body. This may result in:<\/p>\n Heart attack and stroke are potential complications of this disease, where a blood vessel is completely (or almost) blocked, meaning not enough blood and oxygen are delivered to your heart or brain.<\/p><\/div>\n Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management. Melbourne Heart Care employs various tests and procedures to diagnose atherosclerosis, including:<\/p>\n There are a range of options to treat atherosclerosis, depending on what blood vessels are affected, your symptoms and your underlying medical conditions or risk factors.<\/p>\n Lifestyle modifications:<\/strong> Adopting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates a balanced, nutritious diet, regular exercise, no smoking, and managing stress can slow the progression of atherosclerosis and prevent medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obesity.<\/p>\n Medications:<\/strong> Prescription medications may be recommended to treat high cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and prevent blood clots.<\/p>\n Interventional procedures:<\/strong> In some cases, procedures can be performed to open blocked arteries:<\/p>\n There are a range of treatment options, from making healthier choices to medications and interventions such as a cardiac stent.<\/p><\/div>\nWhat is atherosclerosis?<\/h2>\n
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What causes atherosclerosis?<\/h2>\n
\nWhat are the risk factors for atherosclerosis?
\nThere are many risk factors for atherosclerosis, and they can be categorised into modifiable, non-modifiable and medical conditions.<\/p>\n![\"Atherosclerosis](\"https:\/\/www.melbourneheartcare.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/what-are-the-risk-factors-for-atherosclerosis-300x240.jpg\")
Modifiable risk factors<\/h3>\n
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Non-modifiable risk factors<\/h3>\n
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Medical conditions<\/h3>\n
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What are atherosclerosis symptoms?<\/h2>\n
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What are the complications of atherosclerosis?<\/h3>\n
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How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?<\/h2>\n
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What are the treatment options for atherosclerosis?<\/h2>\n
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Melbourne Heart Care offers diagnosis and treatment for atherosclerosis<\/h2>\n