ARTERIOSCLEROSIS- SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS

SYMPTOMS OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

ALSO SEE: THE TREATMENT OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

There many symptoms of arteriosclerosis but the major symptoms that are associated with arteriosclerosis are:

•  pain and cramps in the legs,

•  coldness and numbness in the feet,

•  kidney disorders,
•  high blood pressure and chest pain, 

•  memory loss, and
•   paralysis

DIAGNOSIS OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

Atherosclerosis can be diagnosed by a number of methods which are:

 physical examination, 

Laboratory diagnosis/Blood tests (blood tests show the levels of certain fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins in the blood. Abnormal levels may reveal that a person is at risk for atherosclerosis), 

Electrocardiogram [(EKG)-an EKG is a simple, painless test that probes and records the heart's electrical activity. This test shows the speed of the heart beat and its rhythm. It also displays the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through the heart and can show signs of a previous or current heart attack], 

Chest X-ray (which takes pictures of the organs and structures inside the chest including the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. A chest X-ray can indicate signs of heart failure),

 Ankle/brachial Index (this test compares the blood pressure in the ankle with that in the arm to see how well blood is flowing), 

Echocardiography (also known as echo makes use of sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. The test gives information about the size and shape of the heart and how well the heart chambers and valves are working), 

Computed Tomography Scan [a computed tomography (CT) scan creates computer-generated pictures of the heart, brain, or other areas of the body. The test can show a hardening and narrowing of large arteries and it can reveal whether calcium has built up in the walls of the coronary (heart) arteries. This may be an early sign of CHD], stress testing (during stress testing, exercise is done to make the heart work hard and beat faster, while heart tests are done. This test can reveal possible signs and symptoms of CHD, such as abnormal changes in the heart rate or blood pressure, shortness of breath or chest pain and unusual changes in the heart rhythm or its electrical activity), 

Angiography (this is a test that uses dye and special X- rays to show the inner parts of the arteries. This test can show whether plaque is blocking an artery and the severity of the blockage). 

Research is going on with other tests to see whether they can give a clearer view of plaque buildup in the arteries and some of these tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET).

ALSO SEE: THE TREATMENT OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

Tags: arteriosclerosis symptoms, arteriosclerosis diagnosis, 

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