Symptoms of Atherosclerosis

In general, atherosclerosis begins to develop during late childhood, and may be found in most major arteries. However, it only becomes symptomatic when it begins to interfere with the cerebral circulation supplying the brain or the coronary circulation supplying the heart.

If the cerebral arteries are affected, the patient's memory and intelligence may deteriorate, and they may also experience one-sided weakness or passing feelings of dizziness. The greatest risk is that of stroke.

If the coronary arteries are affected, the sufferer may develop angina (pain in the heart muscle) caused by the lack of oxygen. Unfortunately, for 65% of men and nearly 50% of women, the first symptom of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is heart attack or sudden cardiac death within one hour of onset of the symptom.

If the arms or (more usually) the legs are involved, the decreased blood flow will starve the muscles of oxygen, causing the sufferer to develop a condition known as peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). If the legs are affected, the calves will ache during walking and the feet will become ice cold.