Two conditions within this category areatherosclerosisandarteriosclerosis, which are often confused.
Both conditions involve changes in the arterial walls.
Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis both affect the arteries, but their impacts, causes, and health risks vary.
Photo composite by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Understanding their differences can reveal how vascular disease develops and affects overall health.
A healthy artery has smooth, flexible walls so blood can flow through easily.
In atherosclerosis, the artery stiffness is due toplaquebuildup within the arterial walls.
Plaque is a sticky, fatty substance composed of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances.
Atherosclerosis is typically the cause of coronary artery disease (CAD).
While both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis involve artery changes, plaque formation in atherosclerosis can come with additional health risks.
In the early stages, both conditions may have no noticeable symptoms.
This is a condition known asclaudication.
In arteriosclerosis, the heart has to work much harder to get blood through the body.
As time goes on, the enlarged heart can begin to fail.
Arteriosclerosis happens naturally as the body ages.
Testing Differences
Healthcare providers can use different tests to check for atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis, or both.
Commonly, blood tests such as inflammation markers, triglycerides, and lipoproteins are checked.
How Is Treatment Similar?
Lifestyle changes are one of the main ways both conditions are managed.
In addition to lifestyle changes, medications can help.
Regular exercise also helps, as it improves circulation and can help lower blood pressure.
The first step is determining your risk by getting regular checkups.
Arteriosclerosis is the thickening and hardening of artery walls, often due to aging.
Symptoms for both diseases may go unnoticed until advanced and vary depending on which arteries are affected.
Early testing and regular check-ups can also catch these conditions before they become severe.
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