Atherosclerosis Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

There are none in early atherosclerosis. As the arteries become harder and narrower, symptoms may begin to appear. If a clot blocks a blood vessel or a large embolus breaks free, symptoms can occur suddenly.

Symptoms depend on which arteries are affected. For example:

Coronary (heart) arteries—may cause symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain
Arteries in the brain—may cause symptoms of a stroke such as weakness or dizziness
Arteries in the lower extremities—may cause pain in the legs or feet and trouble walking

Embolus

Diagnosis

Most people are diagnosed after they develop symptoms. However, people can be screened and treated for risk factors.

If you have symptoms, your doctor will ask you questions. These will help to determine what arteries might be affected. The doctor will also need to know your full medical history. A physical exam will be done. Tests will depend on which arteries may be involved. Test will be decided based on your symptoms, physical exam, and/or risk factors. Many of these tests detect problems with the tissue that is not getting enough blood. Two common tests that directly evaluate the atherosclerotic arteries are:

Angiography —a tube-like instrument is inserted into an artery. Dye is injected into the vessel to help determine the degree of blood flow. When done in the heart, this test is called cardiac catheterization .
Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to examine the inside of the body. In this case, the test examines the size and shape of arteries.