It is a "time bomb" in the body! Staying up late, not exercising, and smoking are all causes

This article was reviewed by Tao Ning, PhD, Associate Professor at the National Institute

Human blood vessels are like water pipes in the home. Over time, "garbage" will inevitably accumulate and form plaques. These plaques not only look bumpy, but once there are inducing factors, such as rupture of a part of the arterial plaque, they will erupt like a volcano, inducing a series of changes, forming blood clots or causing infarction. It is as if the body has a time bomb that can explode at any time.

01

Does everyone get plaque?

From a medical point of view, it is simply the aging of blood vessels. Once blood vessels age, plaques may form. Usually, plaques slowly form around the age of 50. However, clinically, there are also young people in their 30s who have carotid artery sclerosis plaques with a stenosis degree of up to 90%, so young people should not take it lightly.

02

How come plaques develop in healthy blood vessels?

Human blood contains a certain amount of lipids, such as triglycerides and cholesterol, etc. Once these lipids are too high, especially low-density lipoproteins, accumulate more and more in the blood vessels, which will reduce the elasticity of the arteries, narrow the lumen, and form pieces of atherosclerotic plaques.

03

Is blood vessel narrowing caused by plaque fatal?

Carotid artery plaque stenosis is not fatal, but the degree of carotid artery stenosis and the stability of the plaque are fatal. If the plaque is unstable, it is very easy to rupture, causing the plaque to fall off and form a thrombus. The thrombus will block the blood vessels and cause a series of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is very important to understand the status of the plaque.

04

Where are plaques most dangerous?

Arteries are found throughout the human body, so arteries in different parts of the body are susceptible to disease. Plaques are dangerous wherever they grow. Cardiac arteriosclerosis can lead to myocardial infarction, cerebral arteriosclerosis can lead to cerebral hemorrhage, neck artery blockage can cause stroke, and lower limb arteriosclerosis can cause lower limb pain, loss of mobility, and even limb necrosis.

05

What are the factors that cause vascular plaque?

High blood sugar

hypertension

High cholesterol

Smoking

obesity

stay up

Genetics

Less exercise

06

What indicators are on the test sheet?

Does it indicate that you have arteriosclerosis?

Low-density lipoprotein

High-density lipoprotein

Total cholesterol

Homocysteine

07

Carotid artery plaque

Are you not far from a cerebral infarction?

No, the growth of plaques is a very slow process, and the connection between plaques and blood vessel walls is very strong. During surgery, surgical instruments are needed to peel them off, and plaques are difficult to fall off on their own. When the blood vessel cavity is occupied by plaques for more than 70%, it will not only affect blood flow, but also cause rupture, and surgical intervention must be carried out in a timely manner.

Source: CCTV Finance (ID:cctvyscj)

The pictures in this article with the "Science Popularization China" watermark are all from the copyright gallery. The pictures are not authorized for reprinting.