**5. Risk factors**

#### **5.1. Non-modifiable risk factors**


Coronary atherosclerosis is an important site of atherosclerosis. There are various types of results due to coronary atherosclerosis. Especially, the size of the plaque and the type of the complicated plaque are important for this. Whatever the beginning of the atheromatous plaque, the result can be a fatal heart attack. In developed countries atherosclerosis causes more than half of total mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is responsible for a major

Focus on Coronary Atherosclerosis

9

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77301

Onset of the atherosclerotic plaque and speed of the growth and complications, there are several signs and symptoms. Atherosclerosis can be seen in every artery, but for the coronary atherosclerosis, the result of the disease is coronary artery disease, and the symptoms and the signs are due to this. Because of the impaired blood flow, there is a sort of symptoms. Some of them are in the side of the chest, and some of them are systemic because of the impaired

• Tachycardia: common in persons with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute myocar-

proportion of these deaths [12].

**6. Signs and symptoms**

circulation.

• Chest pain

• Leg swelling

• Weight gain

• Diaphoresis

• Heart murmurs

• Tachypnea

• Syncope

• Rales

• Leg edema

• Xanthelasmas

• Livedo reticularis

• S4

• S3

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness, palpitations

dial infarction (AMI)

• High or low blood pressure

gallop: a common early finding

gallop: an indication of reduced left ventricular function

• Weakness, tiredness, reduced exertional capacity


#### **5.2. Modifiable risk factors**


#### **5.3. Atheroprotective factors**


Coronary atherosclerosis is an important site of atherosclerosis. There are various types of results due to coronary atherosclerosis. Especially, the size of the plaque and the type of the complicated plaque are important for this. Whatever the beginning of the atheromatous plaque, the result can be a fatal heart attack. In developed countries atherosclerosis causes more than half of total mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is responsible for a major proportion of these deaths [12].
