Symptoms of Atherosclerosis

List of symptoms of Atherosclerosis:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Atherosclerosis includes the 15 symptoms listed below:

• No early symptoms
• Symptoms of coronary artery disease
  • Angina
  • Heart attack
  • Coronary thrombosis
• Symptoms of brain artery disease
  • Stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack
• Symptoms of leg artery disease
  • Leg blood clot
  • Leg pain
  • Leg cramps
  • Intermittent claudication
• Other symptoms
  • Erectile dysfunction

Note that Atherosclerosis symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Atherosclerosis signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Atherosclerosis

Do I have Atherosclerosis?

• Atherosclerosis: Introduction
• Atherosclerosis: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Atherosclerosis
• Failure to Diagnose Atherosclerosis
• Hidden Causes of Atherosclerosis
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Atherosclerosis
• More about Atherosclerosis

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Atherosclerosis:

• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Cholesterol Tests

Wrongly Diagnosed with Atherosclerosis?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Atherosclerosis includes:

• Autoimmune Atherosclerosis
• Buerger's disease
• Impotence
• Scleroderma

See the full list of 4 alternative diagnoses for Atherosclerosis

More about symptoms of Atherosclerosis:

More information about symptoms of Atherosclerosis and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Atherosclerosis
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Atherosclerosis
• Underlying causes of Atherosclerosis
• Associated conditions for Atherosclerosis
• Risk factors for Atherosclerosis

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Angina - see all causes of Angina
• Coronary thrombosis - see all causes of Heart symptoms
• Erectile dysfunction - see all causes of Erectile dysfunction
• Heart attack - see all causes of Heart attack
• Leg blood clot - see all causes of Leg symptoms
• Leg cramps - see all causes of Leg cramps
• Leg pain - see all causes of Leg pain
• No early symptoms - see all causes of No symptoms
• Other symptoms
• Stroke - see all causes of Stroke symptoms
• Symptoms of brain artery disease - see all causes of Cerebrovascular symptoms
• Symptoms of coronary artery disease - see all causes of Artery symptoms
• Symptoms of leg artery disease - see all causes of Leg symptoms
• Transient ischemic attack - see all causes of Stroke symptoms

Medical Books Online about Atherosclerosis

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Atherosclerosis are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Atherosclerosis.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Related videos for Atherosclerosis

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Symptoms of Atherosclerosis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Atherosclerosis.

Hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Hypertension usually doesn’t produce clinical effects until vascular changes in the heart, brain, or kidneys occur. Severely elevated blood pressure damages the intima of small vessels, resulting in fibrin accumulation in the vessels, development of local edema and, possibly, intravascular clotting. Symptoms produced by this process depend on the location of the damaged vessels:

❑ brain — stroke

❑ retina — blindness

❑ heart — myocardial infarction

❑ kidneys — proteinuria, edema and, eventually, renal failure.

Hypertension increases the heart’s workload, causing left ventricular hypertrophy and, later, left- and right-sided heart failure and pulmonary edema.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Pregnancy-induced hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Mild preeclampsia generally produces the following clinical effects: hypertension, proteinuria (less than 5 g/24 hours), generalized edema, and sudden weight gain of more than 3 lb (1.4 kg) per week during the second trimester or more than 1 lb (0.5 kg) a week during the third trimester.

Severe preeclampsia is marked by increased hypertension and proteinuria, eventually leading to the development of oliguria. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (the HELLP syndrome) is a severe variant. Other symptoms that may indicate worsening preeclampsia include blurred vision due to retinal arteriolar spasms, epigastric pain or heartburn, and severe frontal headache.

In eclampsia, all the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia are magnified and are associated with seizures and, possibly, coma, premature labor, stillbirth, renal failure, and hepatic damage.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Hypertensive crisis: Signs and Symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Hypertension, papilledema, retinal hemorrhages and exudate, severe headache, vomiting, vision disturbances, transient paralysis, seizures, stupor, coma

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Pulmonary hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Most patients complain of increasing dyspnea on exertion, weakness, syncope, and fatigability. Many also show signs of right-sided heart failure, including peripheral edema, ascites, jugular vein distention, and hepatomegaly. Other clinical effects vary with the underlying disorder.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Renovascular hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

In addition to elevated systemic blood pressure, renovascular hypertension usually produces symptoms common to hypertensive states, such as headache, palpitations, tachycardia, anxiety, light-headedness, decreased tolerance of temperature extremes, retinopathy, and mental sluggishness. Significant complications include heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke and, occasionally, renal failure.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Typical clinical features of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy include distended jugular veins, diastolic murmurs, moist basilar pulmonary crackles, cardiac enlargement (discernible on percussion or as a cardiac shadow on chest X-ray), and cardiac arrhythmias (other than sinus or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia). Other characteristic abnormalities may include cyanosis, pericardial friction rub, pulse delay, and pulsus alternans.

Decompensation may develop suddenly or gradually, with persistent crackles at the lung bases. As it progresses, edema, increasing dyspnea on exertion, palpitations, a smothering sensation, and hemoptysis may occur.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Hypertension usually doesn’t produce clinical effects until vascular changes in the heart, brain, or kidneys occur. Highly elevated blood pressure damages the intima of small vessels, resulting in fibrin accumulation in the vessels, development of local edema and, possibly, intravascular clotting.

Symptoms produced by this process depend on the location of the damaged vessels:

❑ brain: stroke

❑ retina: blindness

❑ heart: MI

❑ kidneys: proteinuria, edema and, eventually, renal failure.

Hypertension increases the heart’s workload, causing left ventricular hypertrophy and, later, left- and right-sided heart failure, and pulmonary edema.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Arterial occlusive disease: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Evidence of this disease varies widely, according to the occlusion site. (See Clinical features of arterial occlusive disease.)

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Hypertension, pregnancy-induced: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

❑ Mild preeclampsia generally produces the following signs: hypertension, proteinuria, generalized edema, and a sudden weight gain of more than 3 lb (1.4 kg) a week during the second trimester or more than 1 lb (0.5 kg) a week during the third trimester.

❑ Severe preeclampsia is marked by increased hypertension and proteinuria, which eventually lead to the development of oliguria. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and a low platelet count (the HELLP syndrome) is commonly severe.

Clinical tip  A daughter whose mother had toxemia is at high risk for developing HELLP syndrome with a new pregnancy.

Other symptoms that indicate worsening preeclampsia include blurred vision due to retinal arteriolar spasms, epigastric pain or heartburn, irritability, emotional tension, and severe frontal headache.

❑ In eclampsia, all the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia are magnified and associated with seizures and possibly coma, premature labor, stillbirth, renal failure, and liver damage.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Pulmonary hypertension: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Most patients complain of increasing dyspnea on exertion, weakness, syncope, and fatigability. Many also show signs of right-sided heart failure, including peripheral edema, ascites, jugular vein distention, and hepato-megaly. Other clinical features vary according to the underlying disorder.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Typical signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy include neck vein distention, diastolic murmurs, moist basilar pulmonary crackles, cardiac enlargement (discernible on percussion or as a cardiac shadow on a chest X-ray), and cardiac arrhythmias (other than sinus or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia). Other characteristic abnormalities include cyanosis, pericardial friction rub, pulse delay, and alternating pulse.

Clinical tip  Mitral valve prolapse is most common. Its accompanying signs and symptoms include rapid heart rate, palpitations, and mitral insufficiency or murmur. Echocardiography confirms the condition.

Decompensation may develop suddenly or gradually, with persistent crackles at the lung bases. As it progresses, edema, increasing exertional dyspnea, palpitations, a smothering sensation, and hemoptysis may occur.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Atherosclerosis:

There are usually no symptoms until one or more arteries are so clogged with plaque that blood flow is severely reduced. This reduced flow of blood and oxygen to some part of the body (such as the heart) is called ischemia and may cause pain or discomfort. Some people have no symptoms until a blood clot forms, completely blocks an already narrowed artery, and causes a heart attack or stroke.

The symptoms you have depend on which arteries are badly clogged and what part of the body is affected by the reduced flow of blood.

• If arteries taking blood to your heart muscle are affected, you have coronary artery disease (CAD). You may have chest pain called angina that happens when you exert yourself and goes away when you rest. You could also have a heart attack.

• If arteries taking blood to your brain are affected, you have cerebrovascular disease. You could have a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a stroke.

• If arteries taking blood to your legs are affected, you have peripheral arterial disease (PAD). You may have pain in the calf or thigh muscle called intermittent claudication that happens when you walk. This kind of pain goes away when you stop and rest.

All of these conditions are serious and should not be ignored. Arteries taking blood to the intestines, the kidneys, or other organs can also become clogged by plaque. This can sometimes lead to a medical emergency similar to a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis can also cause erectile dysfunction in men. (Source: excerpt from ATHEROSCLEROSIS: NWHIC)

Atherosclerosis as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Atherosclerosis, it is also important to consider Atherosclerosis as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Atherosclerosis may cause:

• Amaurosis fugax
• Aortic aneurysm, abdominal
• Aortic aneurysm, thoracic
• Cardiac arrest
• Carotid artery stenosis
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Claudication of limb
• Ectopic calcification
• Embolism
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Leriche syndrome
• Limb ischaemia
• Myocardial infarction
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Renal artery stenosis
• Renal infarction
• Skin ulceration
• Transient ischaemic attack

Atherosclerosis as a symptom:

For a more detailed analysis of Atherosclerosis as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Atherosclerosis.

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Atherosclerosis
• How serious is Atherosclerosis?
• More about Atherosclerosis
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Atherosclerosis:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Atherosclerosis. This signs and symptoms information for Atherosclerosis has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Atherosclerosis signs or Atherosclerosis symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Atherosclerosis may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Atherosclerosis symptoms.