the biology of atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes bryan holden
TRANSCRIPT
First Things First…
What is Atherosclerosis?
-It is the progressive depositing of lipids and cells in the inner layer of an artery
-It is the most common cause of heart attacks and strokes
-Accounts for 75% of all cardiovascular disease deaths
The Mechanism of a Heart Attack
• WBC’s adhere to luminal surface of the artery wall.
• WBC’s differentiate into macrophages to fight an infection
• Macrophages can readily endocytose LDL cholesterol into artery
• Cholesterol is converted to an ester and is passed into the macrophage forming a foam cell
Prevention of Atherosclerosis
• Exercise: 30 minutes most of the days of the week
• Eat a diet low in saturated fats• Don’t smoke