Arteriosclerosis – vascular check shows calcifications already in the early stages

Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the vessels) develops gradually. The vessels lose elasticity, permeability decreases and blood circulation is impaired in the long term – a Heart attack or a Stroke are the life-threatening consequences.

"Fatalely, this process takes place over years and decades without any external signs of illness. The patient has no symptoms at first, only in the late stages do local symptoms appear, depending on the organ affected, such as a feeling of tightness in the chest, pain in the legs or recurring dizziness," says Dr. Reinhold Lunow. "Regular screening, vascular check, can reveal possible arteriosclerotic changes at an early stage. Depending on the findings, further treatment steps can then be initiated acutely or preventively," says the internist and medical director of the practice clinic Bornheim near Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf.

Obesity and smoking are among the risk factors

Too fatty and high cholesterol Nutrition with obesity as a result is one of the main risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Lack of exercise and smoking also contribute to vascular wear. "However, most of those affected do not see any need to change their lifestyle due to the lack of symptoms. Often it is only a medical examination that confirms the changed condition of the vessels that makes patients think twice. An ultrasound examination, known as color Doppler sonography, can clearly show the arteriosclerotic changes and deposits (plaques) in the vessels, e.g. in the carotid artery (aorta), and often initiate a change of mind," explains Dr. Lunow.

Change your diet and live more actively

As part of the vascular check, the internist will explain your individual cardiovascular risks and advise you on balanced diet with healthy fats, an active lifestyle and, if necessary, drug therapy options. For this purpose, various parameters of “vascular health” such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Because a normalization of these blood lipid levels and treatment of possible additional risk factors such as Hypertension and Diabetes can significantly reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Women in menopause are at risk

Women in menopause are also at risk of developing arteriosclerosis. Up until menopause, female sex hormones protect against arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease to a certain extent. The cholesterol level in young women usually has a high proportion of "good" cholesterol, known as HDL.

However, with the hormonal changes of menopause, the HDL proportion decreases, so that the risk of cardiovascular disease for women increases with the onset of menopause. "At the latest, women should have regular internal medical check-ups by then," advises the medical director of the Bornheim practice clinic.

Practice clinic offers a wide range of preventive care

In addition to the vascular check and the Check-up from 35, the Bornheim practice clinic offers a series of other preventive examinations“Contact us and let us advise you on which check-up would be most advisable for you,” recommends Dr. Lunow.