Atherosclerosis

Description: Atherosclerosis is a disease that can affect people at any age, but poses more of a threat when a person is in their forties or fifties. This disease narrows the arteries caused by cholesterol-rich plaques of the immune system cells. The key risk factors of Atherosclerosis are elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, high blood pressure, and cigarette smoke.

A condition in which fatty material collects along the wall of the arteries. It thickens, hardens,a nd eventually blocks the arteries. Risk factors for Atherosclerosis are diabetes, heavy alcohal use, high blood pressure, high fat diet, increasing age, and smoking. -Jeffery

Chromosome location: Atherosclerpsis is located on chromosome 10.

Located on chromosome 10. -Jeffery

Treatment: Treatment for this disease is to avoid fatty foods, no more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day, exercise daily for 30 minutes a day, 60-90 minutes a day if you are overweight. You should also get you blood tested every 1-2 years. Medication to help prevent blood are aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix). These are known as anitplatelet drugs.

Treatment would be changing to a healthy lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet and exercising. But sometimes, medication or surgical procedures may be recommended as well. -Jeffery

Life Expectancy: Life expectancy with this disease varies due to the amount of atherosclerosis a person has in their body.

Life expectancy depends on how effective the disease is on the victim. -Jeffery

Support Organizations: Support groups for this disease ar DailyStrength, WomenHeart Support Community, Blood Pressure Support Group

Supporting organizations for Atherosclerosis are Blood Pressure support group, Circulatory Disorders support group, and Heart Disease support group. -Jeffery

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