What Is the Relationship Between Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality?
The Relationship Between Arteriosclerosis and Risk of Death
Arteriosclerosis is the hardening and thickening of the walls of arteries (large blood vessels). This condition is often referred to as arterial stiffness and usually increases with age. Arteriosclerosis is known to have a significant impact on cardiovascular disease and general health.
The primary cause of death in the world and in Turkey is still cardiovascular disease, and the main cause is atherosclerosis.
The main risk factors that cause atherosclerosis are as follows:
I- Modifiable risk factors
- Dyslipidemia
– Hypercholesterolemia
– Low HDL cholesterol
2- Hypertension
3- Cigarette
4- Diabetes mellitus
II- Risk factors that cannot be changed
1- Age
2- Gender
3- Heredity
Minor risk factors that cause atherosclerosis:
1- Hypertriglyceridemia
2- Obesity
3- Lack of physical activity
4- Stress
Cardiovascular Deaths
- Heart attack and stroke: Arteriosclerosis can lead to plaque build-up on the walls of blood vessels. These plaques can narrow or block the inner walls of blood vessels, which can lead to serious problems such as heart attack or stroke.
- Heart Failure: Arteriosclerosis causes the heart to work harder and therefore weaken over time. This increases the risk of heart failure and leads to cardiovascular deaths.
All Cause Deaths
Arteriosclerosis can have a negative impact on general health and increase the risk of all-cause mortality. The following conditions are among the main causes of this risk:
- Hypertension and high blood pressure: Arteriosclerosis is often related to high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and can have a negative impact on general health. This can increase the risk of all-cause mortality.
- Organ Damage: Arteriosclerosis can damage all organs in the body that have arteries. In particular, it disrupts the nutrition of the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes and many other organs, causing negative effects on these organs. This organ damage is considered to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. It can also weaken blood flow to the extremities, resulting in non-healing wounds and gangrene in the feet.
As a result
Arteriosclerosis has a significant impact on cardiovascular disease and general health. There is a direct correlation between cardiovascular deaths and atherosclerosis, as hardened arteries can interfere with the proper functioning of the heart and other organs by interfering with their healthy supply. There are also risk factors associated with atherosclerosis among all-cause mortality. Therefore, managing and preventing atherosclerosis can have a positive impact on overall health and life expectancy.
