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In what part of the arterial wall does cholesterol plaque develop?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Under the endothelial layer.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What does cholesterol do to the human body?
build cell membranesused as raw material to make steroid hormonesforms part of arterial plaquesetc.We cannot live without cholesterol, even though it can cause us problems.
What is it called when arteries get clogged with cholesterol?
The fundamental and direct answer to your question is: The disease atherosclerosis results in at least one arterial plaque in an artery, but it almost always results in multiple arterial plaques in multiple arteries. Oxidized vLDL (very Low-Density Lipoprotein) and LDL cholesterols are what cause a plaque to form in the first place, and as time passes, additional cholesterol and other lipids (triglycerides, fats and fat derivatives) accumulate within the cells that make up the arterial walls thus narrowing, or "clogging," the arteries.In the beginning, an arterial plaque is caused when a sufficient number of oxidized vLDL and LDL cholesterol particles embed themselves in the same general area of an arterial wall and cause a cascade of events, starting with an immune response to the artery's injury. In the vast majority of people who have atherosclerosis, a newly-formed plaque evolves over four or more decades; gradually accumulating dead macrophages (a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system), lipids, calcified layers, and layers of fibrotic material. In persons with the disease hypercholesterolaemia, who suffer from exceptionally high cholesterol levels, plaques develop and thicken at a much greater rate.The primary layman's term for atherosclerosis is "hardening of the arteries" since the arteries gradually become stiff, rough and misshapen rather than pliable, smooth and straight or gently curved.I thought that it was important for you to know that what clogs an artery is not only made of cholesterol, therefore what follows is some selected additional information on arterial plaques: The constituents of a mature arterial plaque may not even be half cholesterol. Some of the additional constituents were mentioned earlier, but a more complete and specific list includes phospholipids, dead and living smooth muscle cells (that make up part of an arterial wall), a large specialized protein that is part of every vLDL and LDL cholesterol particle, blood platelets, fibrin and red and white blood cells snared in the cross-linked fibrin net. In general, the more of the lumen that is blocked, the lower the fraction of cholesterol contained in the arterial plaque. Also, the ratio of cholesterol to the other materials contained in a plaque varies from one plaque to another, even in the same person, and from person to person. Another reason for the variance is that different amounts of oxidized cholesterol become embedded in an arterial wall before the cascade of events occurs that ultimately results in formation of an arterial plaque.I want to make it clear that I am not a medical doctor, and more importantly, I have not even played one on TV. But, I truly did earn a Ph.D. in chemical kinetics. Knowledge is not the most important thing gained from obtaining a Ph.D. What is, is learning what questions must be answered in order to solve or understand the problem at hand. With respect to atherosclerosis, the most important ultimate question is: What can one do to minimize their risk of developing an arterial plaque in the first place? The answer to this question can probably only be answered completely after the answer to other questions are known. A lot of the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis are known; perhaps all of them. Therefore, it is logical that we begin looking for how to prevent, or at least how to slow the progression of, atherosclerosis by eliminating as many risk factors as possible. It appears that things can only go downhill once a plaque has formed, however the human body does have an amazing ability to heal itself, hence it is my opinion that it is possible to prevent, and even reverse, atherosclerosis in most people provided that the disease has not progressed too far.I believe that the three most important facts yet known about atherosclerosis are: 1) Only vLDL and LDL cholesterol particles become stuck to and then embedded in arterial walls. 2) Only oxidized cholesterol molecules are found in the arterial walls; and 3) when the density of oxidized cholesterol in an arterial wall reaches some magic number, the eventual result is a very damaging immune response. These three facts lead to the four most important preliminary questions, the answers to which must be known in order to answer the ultimate question: 1) Do only vLDL- and LDL cholesterol particles containing oxidized cholesterol penetrate and embed in an arterial wall? Or 2) Is the cholesterol in the particles oxidized after they penetrate and embed in an arterial wall, or do both 1) and 2) occur? 3) Can powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, lipoic acid, eugenol, natural mixed tocopherols (d,α-, d,β- and d,λ-tocopherols), or other natural and safe antioxidants chemically reduce some forms of oxidized cholesterol back to cholesterol?For the time being, I take 1000 mg of vitamin C and 200 mg of lipoic acid twice a day for their well-known powerful antioxidant and radical scavenger abilities. Since I am not any reader's doctor, I am not recommending that anyone take these two supplements, and there is one Warning! Anyone taking any medication, including insulin, for high blood sugar, it is very important that he or she does not take lipoic acid without speaking to his or her doctor first. I do recommend that the reader never consume any food that contains "partially-hydrogenated [name of oil]" since all of those modified oils contain trans fats, which are known to raise the LDL cholesterol of almost everyone. One should also never heat olive oil and other oils that contain a high percentage of unsaturated oils above approximately 350 ˚F because doing so will convert some of the [naturally-occuring] cis double bonds to transdouble bonds. This means that one should not stir fry with olive oil and other "delicate" oils. Lastly, I strongly recommend that cooks do not heat oils to the point that they smoke. Any oil that is smoking is being oxidized and is hot enough to form trans double bonds. Use fat, not oil, if a pan needs to be that hot. Coconut fat, palm kernel fat, and beef tallow are much healthier alternatives to oils that are heated to the smoking point.
What difference between dental plaque and bacterial plaque?
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol , calcium, and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. It also makes it more likely that blood clots will form in your arteries. Blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow.:) I'm not sure if that's the right plaque, but it's a plaque...
What condition results from cholesterol building up in the walls of blood vessels?
it causes the formation of plaque in the walls of the artery. as a result of this, the diameter of the lumen of the artery narrows and it causes the heart to pump blood more forcefully through it. this explains also why high cholesterol is associated with hypertension or high blood pressure.
Is cholesterol a normal part of all living things?
is Cholesterol a normal part of living things.
What body part processes cholesterol?
The liver makes cholesterol.
Is the protein in egg yolk or white?
The outbreaks in recent years have been caused by Salmonella found inside the eggs. See Related links. If the ovaries of the chicken are infected, the Salmonella could be in either the yolk or the white.If the shell has not been disinfected or the eggs have been held under insanitary conditions, Salmonella could be on the shell which could transfer to your hands which could then contaminate everything you touch after that.
What part of the world did the bubonic plaque affect?
England
How does oxidized cholesterol enter the bloodstream?
It was very refreshing to see your question. I have never once heard an MD or any other medical professional discuss the role of oxidized cholesterol, unless it was in a research paper, despite the momentous role it plays in atherosclerosis. Only oxidized LDL cholesterol initiates the chain of events that lead to the formation of arterial plaques and ultimately to arterial stenosis. This is why one should never eat certain foods and why almost everyone should supplement their diet with vitamin C and lipoic acid, which is usually called "Alpha Lipoic Acid" on a supplement label.Depending mostly on ones diet, including the antioxidants he consumes, oxidized cholesterol may enter the bloodstream by ingestion. In most cases, however; cholesterol in the form of LDL is oxidized after it has penetrated the endothelium lining of the artery wall.There are many oxidized forms of cholesterol. This contributor does not know if any of those forms are capable of entering the bloodstream after being ingested. Everything that is absorbed following ingestion goes to the liver first via the hepatic portal vein before entering the entire bloodstream. If oxidized cholesterol is absorbed by the gut, I do not know what the liver does with it. Perhaps they are stored as part of bile and never make it into the bloodstream proper. But given that just the hydrophobic core of a typical LDL cholesterol particle contains about 1,500 cholesterol molecules, I would guess that the liver includes some fraction of oxidized cholesterol molecules in LDL cholesterol.Until the fate of ingested oxidized cholesterol is known, I would consider powdered eggs one of the worst foods one can eat. During the process of turning true eggs into powdered ones, at least some of the cholesterol in the egg yolks is oxidized. The same thing probably occurs in making whole condensed milk. A significant fraction of the non-trivial amount of cholesterol in cheese becomes oxidized as it ages. Mild cheeses, and especially fresh mozzarella cheeses including queso fresco, have the least amount of damaged cholesterol. In summary, any [animal] product that contains a lot of cholesterol should not be burned or over heated. This means that one should limit the amount of grilled meat and seafood cooked over an open flame such that it becomes charred. Steam shrimp, lobster, crab, oyster and all shellfish, all of which are very high in cholesterol, rather than scorching them over a flame.Can powerful antioxidants like lipoic acid chemically reduce ingested oxidized cholesterol back to cholesterol? This contributor doesn't know. The simplest oxidized cholesterol is 7-hydroxycholesterol; it is possible that this least oxidized form may be reduced back to the parent compound by reductase enzymes, ascorbic acid, lipoic acid, vitamin E and other natural tocopherols, especially ∂-tocopherol which is a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin E.In my opinion, the best strategy to limit arterial plaques is to 1) Inherit good genes and do not get any older than 40. 2) Eliminate or strictly limit the ingestion of oxidized cholesterol, at least until it is proven that none of the oxidized forms of cholesterol end up in the bloodstream. 3) Eat a diet that minimizes the liver's production of LDL and VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol and maximizes the production of HDL cholesterol. 4) Ensure that there are always adequate concentrations of the two strongest, but safe and natural, antioxidants and radical scavengers in the bloodstream; those being L-ascorbic acid, the natural isomer of vitamin C, and lipoic acid. 4a) Take 500 mg of vitamin C and 100 mg of lipoic acid every morning, even on an empty stomach. Smokers or persons who work near automobile exhaust, smoke, or vapors or aerosols of oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or sodium or potassium nitrate dust should take 1000 mg of vitamin C and 200 mg of lipoic acid. The same holds true for anyone who performs vigorous exercise for more than 3 hours per week. Strenuous exercise is a very oxidative process that produces many radicals. In my opinion, exercising vigorously for more than approximately three hours per week is detrimental to that person's heart health. One warning! Anyone on medication for diabetes should not take lipoic acid until he has obtained the okay from his doctor. 4b) Take 500 mg of vitamin C and 100 mg of lipoic acid every evening. Take more if the conditions in 4a apply.Lipoic acid is produced naturally by most cells in the body, but that does not necessarily mean that its concentration in the blood is sufficiently high to prevent cholesterol oxidation. Lipoic acid will reduce oxidized vitamin C back to vitamin C, and it has the same effect on vitamin E. It is capable of chemically reducing oxidized vitamins C and E because it is both water- and fat-soluble. The goal of eating a diet high in colored vegetables and supplementing one's diet with vitamin C and lipoic acid is to prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized before or after it has penetrated the arterial wall. Diets low in cholesterol are of no or little use in reducing one's cholesterol levels since the vast majority of serum cholesterol is synthesized in that person's liver.The reason LDL cholesterol is particularly dangerous is because it penetrates the arterial wall. If the LDL cholesterol in the arterial wall is oxidized, proteins called cytokines are released. Cytokines are part of the immune system and they trigger an immune response by causing the endothelium cells (the single layer of cells that line the arterial walls) to attract monocyte white blood cells. These cells penetrate the arterial wall, become macrophages, and begin to "eat" the oxidized LDL cholesterol particles as if they were bacteria or viruses, which is what macrophages normally do. Some of the macrophages rupture and die, spilling their contents into the intercellular spaces. At this point, an arterial plaque has been created. The lost contents of the ruptured macrophages attract even more of them causing the plaque to thicken. Eventually, the plaque becomes so viscous that macrophages can no longer penetrate it, however macrophages not only consume antigens, they can release lysing enzymes that dissolve part of the arterial wall underneath the plaque, thereby destroying its structure. In some places, the membrane separating the plaque from the inside of the artery may become thin enough for it to rupture when the heart beats (at maximum blood pressure). The exposed plaque material precipitates a clotting response so that a clot is formed over the plaque. Repeated cycles of plaque rupture and subsequent clot formation eventually leads to narrowing of the artery at the location of the plaque, and the artery can become completely blocked. If that artery happens to be a coronary artery, a heart attack will ensue, although it is not necessary to have a completely blocked artery to cause a heart attack. This is exactly what happened to my father almost two years ago. He is fine now after four stints were placed where there were four severely blocked coronary arteries.Arterial plaque may cause a heart attack or a stroke in a different manner. A clot isn't only formed over a ruptured plaque, but also on or around any plaque material that is carried away by the blood flow, and it will eventually block a blood vessel. If the clot is small enough, it will only block capillaries and no major damage is done. However, larger clots will block larger blood vessels, and if a sufficiently large vessel is blocked in the brain, the result will be a stroke, or a cerebral thrombosis. The blockage could occur in an coronary artery resulting in a coronary thrombosis.
How are phospholipids and cholesterol alike?
Yes, the lipid part refers to cholesterol. This is an essential part of every cell in the body because cholesterol is necessary for the formation of the cell membrane.
What part of the arterial wall contains smooth muscle?
Tunica media
What problem can be effectively treated with emergency surgery?
Heart attacks are very effectively treated with emergency surgery depending upon the part of the heart affected, whether there is arterial blockage and overall health. Arrhythmia can develop, as well as stroke.
