Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are both conditions that involve the hardening of the arteries. However, there are some key differences between the two conditions.
When your doctor uses words like “atherosclerosis” and “arteriosclerosis”, it is understandable to get confused. Many people confuse atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis for the same conditions, especially since they sound similar. But there is a major difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis.
Arteriosclerosis is a broader term for a condition characterised by the stiffening or hardening of the arteries. On the other hand, atherosclerosis is a specific kind of arteriosclerosis with different causes, symptoms, and treatments. The following blog compares atherosclerosis vs arteriosclerosis in terms of their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Continue reading to find out.
Arteriosclerosis is a condition that occurs when the artery walls become hard and stiff. Healthy arteries are elastic and flexible. They carry nutrients and oxygen through the blood to and from your lungs and heart. When these arteries stiffen over time, it becomes difficult for blood to flow through, causing circulation problems and increasing pressure. The various types of arteriosclerosis include:
Atherosclerosis is a specific kind of arteriosclerosis. It is the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, and other substances) in the artery walls, causing the arteries to narrow. As a result, the flow of oxygenated blood to the vital organs gets blocked. The plaque can also sometimes burst, leading to a blood clot.
Although atherosclerosis is generally considered a heart problem, the condition can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis occurs slowly and over time. The stages of atherosclerosis include:
Atherosclerosis vs arteriosclerosis are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While the diagnosis for both these conditions is more or less similar, the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment may differ. The following is the difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis in tabular form.
Parameters | Atherosclerosis | Arteriosclerosis |
Meaning | The buildup of plaque in artery walls causes the arteries to narrow |
The hardening or thickening of artery walls, restricting blood flow to organs and tissues |
Scope | A type of arteriosclerosis | A broader term for a group of conditions |
Type of deposits |
Fatty deposits |
Calcium deposits |
Occurrence of symptoms | Mild atherosclerosis shows no symptoms. Symptoms are usually experienced in moderate to severe atherosclerosis. | It causes no symptoms, especially in the early stages. |
Causes | Damage to endothelial cells |
Damage to elastin fibres |
Identifying atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis differences can be difficult since both conditions typically show no symptoms in their early stages. However, the causes of these conditions are pretty straightforward and different. The risk factors of atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are generally different, but some may overlap. The following section will help better understand the difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis based on their symptoms, causes, and risk factors.
The symptoms of atherosclerosis usually do not show during the early stages. Symptoms are usually experienced when you are physically or emotionally stressed since the body requires more oxygen. When they do occur, symptoms of atherosclerosis depend on the affected arteries. Possible symptoms include:
Arteriosclerosis usually causes no symptoms, especially in the early stage. Even when the condition progresses to hypertension (high blood pressure), it shows no symptoms.
Atherosclerosis is caused by damage to endothelial cells (cells that make the inner lining of an artery). When the endothelial cells are damaged, it leads to inflammation, causing plaque development.
Arteriosclerosis is caused by oxidative damage to elastin fibres (proteins that make your artery walls flexible and elastic). The damage causes breakage of elastin fibres, lowering their structured arrangement. As a result, the artery walls become stiff and hard, leading to arteriosclerosis.
Risk Factors
The risk of atherosclerosis increases with the following factors:
Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis share the same foundation of science; therefore, doctors examine both conditions using the same tools. While the treatment for arteriosclerosis usually includes lifestyle changes and medications, treatment for atherosclerosis may also include surgical procedures. If left untreated, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis can lead to further complications.
Diagnosis
There is no difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis based on their diagnosis. To diagnose atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis, the doctor will physically examine the signs of the disease, such as decreased blood pressure, weak pulse, and hardened arteries. Depending on the results of the physical exam, the doctor will order one or more of the following tests:
The doctor may prescribe medications or surgical procedures for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Medications for treating arteriosclerosis include:
Complications
If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to various complications. The complications of atherosclerosis depend on the arteries that are blocked or narrowed. These complications include:
Lifestyle changes are an important part of the treatment plan for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. The same lifestyle changes that treat these conditions can also help prevent them. Lifestyle changes that support the health and function of your arteries include:
Both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis do not show symptoms until they cause other health problems. Therefore, you should visit your doctor for annual health exams, which will help them determine if you are at risk of developing these conditions. Furthermore, you should visit your doctor if you have not gotten your blood pressure and cholesterol checked in a long time.
You should also see your provider if you have the following:
While both conditions are often confused with each other, there is a difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis occurs when the arteries become stiff due to elastin fibres losing elasticity. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that occurs when the arteries narrow due to plaque buildup. Both conditions do not show any symptoms until they develop into serious conditions. Therefore, it is best to prevent them by implementing lifestyle changes and visiting the doctor regularly.
If you experience the symptoms or have a family history of heart disease, consult the experts at HexaHealth to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition. We will help you manage your condition by suggesting the necessary lifestyle changes and working with you closely every step of the way. Furthermore, we will help you connect with the best doctors and surgeons near you if further treatment is required. To know more about atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis difference, contact a HexaHealth expert TODAY!
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The primary difference between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis is that atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis, whereas arteriosclerosis is a general term for a group of conditions.
Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup caused by endothelial damage. On the other hand, arteriosclerosis is the stiffening or hardening of arteries due to elastin fibres losing elasticity.
Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are two conditions affecting the arteries. However, the causes and consequences of atherosclerosis vs arteriosclerosis differ. Arteriosclerosis blocks the walls of the arteries due to elastin fibres losing elasticity from ageing.
On the other hand, atherosclerosis is a medical condition that hardens the arteries and damages the lumen (opening of the artery) due to plaque buildup. It mostly results from the failure of controlled fat and cholesterol levels in your body.
Arteriosclerosis is a broader term for conditions that occur when the artery walls become thick and stiff. Healthy arteries are flexible and elastic due to the presence of elastin fibres. In this condition, the elastin fibres damage with age, causing the artery walls to become stiff. As a result, blood flow becomes difficult, causing circulation problems.
There are several types of arteriosclerosis, such as:
The following are the differences between atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis in tabular form:
Parameter | Atherosclerosis | Arteriosclerosis |
Meaning |
It is a type of arteriosclerosis in which plaque builds up in the artery wall, causing decreased blood flow. |
The condition is characterised by the hardening and thickening of artery walls, leading to restricted blood flow. |
Deposits |
Fatty deposits |
Calcium deposits |
Causes |
Damage to endothelial cells |
Damage to elastin fibres |
Both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis harden and stiffen the blood vessels. The narrowing and hardening of blood vessels decrease blood flow through the artery. While atherosclerosis narrows the blood vessels due to plaque buildup, arteriosclerosis makes them tight due to elastin fibres losing elasticity.
Atherosclerosis is usually more dangerous as it causes narrowing due to plaque buildup. The deposit of fat in the arteries significantly affects blood flow. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to serious complications, like coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, chronic kidney disease, aneurysm, or heart attack.
Both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis do not show symptoms in their early stages. Usually, symptoms are not experienced until these conditions lead to serious problems. When symptoms of atherosclerosis do occur, they depend on the affected arteries.
Possible symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, cold sweats, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, weakness, nausea, numbness or weakness in leg muscles, difficulty speaking, confusion, drooping muscles in the face, pain in the legs or arms, etc.
Although both conditions are related to narrowing arteries, the causes of atherosclerosis vs arteriosclerosis are different. Atherosclerosis is caused due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Plaque development is caused by inflammation in the arteries that result from damage to the endothelial cells (cells that make up the inner lining of the artery). On the other hand, arteriosclerosis results from oxidative damage to elastin fibres (proteins that make the artery walls flexible and elastic), making arteries stiff and hard.
The doctor will perform a physical exam to evaluate the signs and diagnose atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis. According to the physical exam results, the doctor will recommend further tests, such as:
The primary risk factor for arteriosclerosis is age. Elastin fibres significantly lose elasticity after age 55. The risk factors for developing atherosclerosis include:
Symptoms usually do not occur for both atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. However, when they do, the common symptoms of atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis include:
Lifestyle changes and medications are the first-line treatment approaches for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Medications for arteriosclerosis include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators.
Additional medications for atherosclerosis include cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, and blood pressure medicines. If atherosclerosis is not cured with lifestyle modifications and medicines, the doctor may prescribe surgical procedures, such as angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or endarterectomy.
Obesity, smoking, high saturated fat intake, and high blood sugar and cholesterol levels are the reversible risk factors for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Lifestyle changes can help prevent these risk factors and, as a result, prevent these conditions. These lifestyle changes include:
High cholesterol in the blood can lead to plaque (fat, cholesterol, and other substances) buildup in the artery walls. Plaques can cause the arteries to become hard, narrow, or blocked. Therefore, it is important to control cholesterol levels to prevent atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis.
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Last Updated on: 15 December 2023
HexaHealth Care Team brings you medical content covering many important conditions, procedures falling under different medical specialities. The content published is thoroughly reviewed by our panel of qualified doctors for its accuracy and relevance.