Mönckeberg's arteriosclerosis, which doesn't involve atherosclerosis, is a hardening of the arteries due to calicification. It is most commonly found in the Ulnar and Radial arteries and in people over 50 years of age who also have diabetes.
Calcium hardens the medium sized vessels thereby causing them to lose their elasticity. Unless it is severe it usually doesn't present with symptoms. On the other hand ...
Hardening of The Arteries Also Known as Arteriosclerosis
Hardening of the arteries may exist on its own or as the result of long term atherosclerosis. Hardening of the arteries is called arteriosclerosis.
Arteries, when young and healthy, are normally flexible, strong and elastic. But as years go by these same artery walls can become thick, stiff and restrict blood flow to organs and or surrounding tissues.
Arteriosclerosis differs from atherosclerosis, even though the terms are often used interchangeably. For example:
Arteriosclerosis is the actual hardening of the arteries, most often due to age, to much pressure (high blood pressure), Diabetes and calcification of the arteries.
Calcification is responsible for the stiffening and thickening of the artery walls that can compromise blood flow. The arteries become rigid, lose their elasticity and grow thick or swell.
Arteriosclerosis vs Atherosclerosis
You have the donut cake and a hole.
The donut cake is the artery itself and the hole is the channel through which blood flows. Atherosclerotic plaque, which is a pasty substance made up of oxidized LDL and VLDL cholesterol, fibrin, calcium and other debris can fill the hole or bury itself within the artery wall (the cake). However ...
This scenario can be somewhat different than that of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries because atherosclerotic plaque does not have to actually harden. It can and often does remain a pasty goo. In fact ...
The most deadly form of artery plaque is known as vulnerable plaque. This is the plaque that does not harden due to calcification and can easily ruputre leading to immediate complications such as heart attack or stroke. Vulnerable plaque is responsible for 80% of heart attacks.
Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of artery plaque within the arterial channel or walls whereas arteriosclerosis is the actual stiffening, thickening and loss of flexibilty of the artery wall itself due to age and calification.
Coronary Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries within the heart and can lead to serious complications such as angina (chest pain) and heart attack. The hardening of the arteries within the heart can cause the arteries to spasm and this in turn, if the spasm is bad enough it can result in a heart attack.
When the thickening of the coronary artery walls narrow the channel this narrowing compromises blood flow and if a clot should further block the flow a heart attack would inevitably result.
Peripheral Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries found in your arms and legs. Whether due to advanced age, high blood pressure, Diabetes or long term atherosclerosis (calcified plaques) it usually presents with pain when blood flow is compromised.
Cerebral Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries within the brain and can cause serious health problems. When the walls of an artery located within the brain become stiff and thick the thickening can impede blood flow and if the blood flow is blocked enough by either the thickening of the artery wall itself or a blood clot that blocks the narrowed channel it can result in TIA's (Transient Ischemic Attacks) or a full blown ischemic stroke.
If the thickening and hardening of the arteries is less than even the arterial walls could develop bulges, known as aneurysms, and should the aneurysm rupture the bleeding in the brain can cause a hemorrhagic stroke. Both types of stroke can be fatal.
Hardening of the arteries is linked to a condition known as vascular dementia. Small, symptom free strokes cause damage and death to neurons in the brain which inturn presents as personality changes, transient disorientation, memory loss, irritablity, apathy and weeping. Certain tests such as CT and MRI can show the presence of arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries.
Hardening of the arteries, like atherosclerosis, can either be prevented or reversed by learning the correct information and living a healthy lifestyle.
Atherosclerosis, the most common form of arteriosclerosis, is characterized by a build up of arterial plaque that may often become hardened by calcium.
Artery plaque usually takes time to accumulate and is normally made up of oxidized LDL cholesterol, fibrin, calcium and various other forms of debris.
I know this may be confusing so ...
Picture your artery as a donut.
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Atherosclerosis Reversing Atherosclerosis Artery Disease Peripheral Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease
