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What does a blocked artery look like?
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Doc’s Answer
WHAT DOES A BLOCKED ARTERY LOOK LIKE
It looks like this: •
Jessica arteries carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from the heart throughout the body. Healthy arteries are smooth and blood passes through them easily. But a buildup of cholesterol, fat, and calcium, called plaque, in the inner walls of the arteries can slow down blood flow, sometimes blocking it altogether. Clogged or blocked arteries can lead to hypertension, strokes, or even death, so it is vital to understand the signs and symptoms of blocked arteries.
SYMPTOMS OF BLOCKED ARTERIES
Blocked arteries can become too narrow and hardened to function properly. While you may have no obvious signs early on, symptoms can develop as plaque builds up in the arteries. The hardening and narrowing of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and arms. Initially, PAD may cause pain and make walking difficult. When PAD affects the aorta (the body’s main blood vessel) or iliac arteries that carry blood to the legs and pelvic organs, it can cause aortoiliac occlusive disease. This disease develops over a lifetime with varying symptoms which include pain or cramping in the thighs, buttocks, or calves when walking. When resting, sufferers may feel pain in their toes, cold or numbness in their legs, and develop leg or foot ulcers that don’t heal. If the arterial blockages remain, a total loss of circulation to the legs and feet can occur, sometimes resulting in gangrene and the loss of a limb.
Other symptoms of blocked arteries include shortness of breath and excessive fatigue after physical activity. Having more than one of these risk factors increases your chances of developing blocked arteries. For example, if you don’t exercise, you may become overweight or obese, which increases your chances of developing diabetes and/or high blood pressure. Your risk also is higher if your father or brother was diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 55, or your mother or sister received a diagnosis before age 65.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a blocked artery or have a family history of this disease, you should speak with your doctor.
It looks like this: •
Jessica arteries carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from the heart throughout the body. Healthy arteries are smooth and blood passes through them easily. But a buildup of cholesterol, fat, and calcium, called plaque, in the inner walls of the arteries can slow down blood flow, sometimes blocking it altogether. Clogged or blocked arteries can lead to hypertension, strokes, or even death, so it is vital to understand the signs and symptoms of blocked arteries.
SYMPTOMS OF BLOCKED ARTERIES
Blocked arteries can become too narrow and hardened to function properly. While you may have no obvious signs early on, symptoms can develop as plaque builds up in the arteries. The hardening and narrowing of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and arms. Initially, PAD may cause pain and make walking difficult. When PAD affects the aorta (the body’s main blood vessel) or iliac arteries that carry blood to the legs and pelvic organs, it can cause aortoiliac occlusive disease. This disease develops over a lifetime with varying symptoms which include pain or cramping in the thighs, buttocks, or calves when walking. When resting, sufferers may feel pain in their toes, cold or numbness in their legs, and develop leg or foot ulcers that don’t heal. If the arterial blockages remain, a total loss of circulation to the legs and feet can occur, sometimes resulting in gangrene and the loss of a limb.
Other symptoms of blocked arteries include shortness of breath and excessive fatigue after physical activity. Having more than one of these risk factors increases your chances of developing blocked arteries. For example, if you don’t exercise, you may become overweight or obese, which increases your chances of developing diabetes and/or high blood pressure. Your risk also is higher if your father or brother was diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 55, or your mother or sister received a diagnosis before age 65.
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Blake’s Answer
Hey Jessica,
An artery that is blocked will usually be lined with plaque that leads to restricted flow.
Thanks,
Blake
An artery that is blocked will usually be lined with plaque that leads to restricted flow.
Thanks,
Blake
Updated
Cinthya’s Answer
It also depends on where said blocked artery is that you will have symptoms.
In the brain, the sign/symptoms would be of a stroke: dizzy, slurred speech, difficulty walking, weakness-specially one sided, facial drooping, or sudden severe headache.
In your Heart, the s/s would be chest pain, epigastric pain, maybe even radiating to your back, and down your left arm, and neck. Crushing pain/pressure. Getting sweaty, short of breath and dizzy.
In your lungs, the s/s would be difficulty breathing, short shallow breaths, dizzy, sweating, it would worsen with any activity. Pink frothy sputum. Just a feeling of impending doom. Anxiety.
In the arms or legs, the s/s are swelling, pain, redness, warmth directly at the site where the blockage is and cold distal from it. Numbness and tingling at distal end. Along with pallor, And decreased movement.
Any of these require immediate medical attention. Call 9-1-1. Or go to the nearest ER.
In the brain, the sign/symptoms would be of a stroke: dizzy, slurred speech, difficulty walking, weakness-specially one sided, facial drooping, or sudden severe headache.
In your Heart, the s/s would be chest pain, epigastric pain, maybe even radiating to your back, and down your left arm, and neck. Crushing pain/pressure. Getting sweaty, short of breath and dizzy.
In your lungs, the s/s would be difficulty breathing, short shallow breaths, dizzy, sweating, it would worsen with any activity. Pink frothy sputum. Just a feeling of impending doom. Anxiety.
In the arms or legs, the s/s are swelling, pain, redness, warmth directly at the site where the blockage is and cold distal from it. Numbness and tingling at distal end. Along with pallor, And decreased movement.
Any of these require immediate medical attention. Call 9-1-1. Or go to the nearest ER.