Todays
scientific studies reveal that Atherosclerosis
occurs in childhood and worsens and a person ages.
The disease can be found In 12% of adults, and
the proportion rises with advancing age to as much
as 20-30% in people over 75 years old, and 50-60%
in those older than 85.
In addition, the chance of detecting the disease
increases if there are some risk factors, such
as smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol level
and high blood pressure. For example, 30% of
patients with diabetes are found to have Atherosclerosis-
that is, one in every 3-4 diabetes patients tested
is found to have Atherosclerosis. There is no
doubt that every single one of us longs for longevity,
with neither illness nor pain. However, this
Atherosclerosis may prevent us from fulfilling
this wish. First of all, restriction of blood
flow to the muscles of the legs and feet causes
pains in the legs. In the early stages of the
condition, the pains occur when exercising; however,
the condition will worsen, causing pains even
while resting. Some patients with more advanced
atherosclerosis may experience pains or gangrene
in their feet, sometimes requiring the removal
of those parts. Another reason is what follows
Atherosclerosis, the shorter life span.
25% ( or one in every 4) of the patients with advanced
atherosclerosis die of heart diseases every year.
From scientific data, we know that symptoms in 75%
of the patients cannot be observed whereas the rest
25% experience leg and hip pain while walking. As
a doctors inquiry about symptoms, even accompanied
with preliminary examination, is not sufficiently
accurate, a test performed by a device is needed
to compare the systolic pressure level at the ankle
with that in the arm. The result obtained is called
Ankle-brachial Index (ABI). The ABI was used to detect
atherosclerosis at its early stage, and nowadays
has become the standard, as it is fast and reliable.
In this connection, it is also notable that new models
of ABI test devices are even more efficient than
ever. |
