Arteriosclerosis vs Atherosclerosis - Differences and Similarities?
QUESTION: What are arteriosclerosis vs atherosclerosis differences and similarities? Are they the same or different?
ANSWER: Hi,
Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are two very similar and, at the same time, very different conditions.
In purpose to understand all the differences and all the similarities, there are few things that have to be mentioned.
This condition is affecting only the arteries, i.e., only the blood vessels which are transporting blood from the heart to the tissues.
Arteriosclerosis may appear as a result of elevated blood pressure and during the development of atherosclerosis.
The congestion may appear if there is in inflammatory process that results to the formation of cicatrix.
Cicatrix is a formation made mainly of collagen and it appears when the cells of certain tissue are not able to multiply, because during the inflammatory process a part of the living cells are dying.
The organism is trying to replace the missing part of cells and, for that reason, it fulfills the created whole with collagen.
This condition is affecting not only the arteries, but even the veins. Furthermore, it is observed in patients with high cholesterol levels.
As you can see, in some way, the arteriosclerosis is a part of the atherosclerosis. These conditions are followed by inflammatory process which may lead to the development of thrombosis.
Thrombosis is a very dangerous condition for the organism; therefore, it is a must to use certain drugs to prevent its onset in both cases, arterio or atherosclerosis.
All the best!
Dr.Alba
What is the short-term rifalazil treatment on carotid atherosclerosis and intima media thickness all about?
QUESTION: I heard that there are some effects of short-term rifalazil treatment on carotid atherosclerosis and intima media thickness. Does it really work?
Jenna
ANSWER: Hi Jenna,
First, let me tell you that rifalazil is an antibiotic drug, used to treat infections caused by Chlamydia. As it is an intra-cellular microorganism, studies have postulated that it can induce the Chlamydia-accelerated atherosclerosis.
Therefore, experimental studies have been carried out to determine whether Rifalazil treatment could also treat this type of atherosclerosis because of the effect of this drug that can assimilate the microorganism inside the atherosclerotic plaque.
So far, there are promising results; however, it might need to be "human-proven" although only few studies have been carried.
Dr.Alba
