There are a few possible causes for atherosclerosis without chest discomfort, such as the condition affecting a body part other than the heart.
The accumulation of plaque on the artery walls results in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis may occasionally be shortened to ASCL, though this is uncommon.Plaque is a sticky material composed of waste products from cells, lipids, cholesterol, and calcium. The arteries narrow as a result of plaque buildup, which may limit blood flow to your organs and tissues.
Atherosclerosis is referred to by many medical professionals as a silent illness. This is because symptoms usually don't appear until a substantial restriction of blood flow caused by plaque formation has occurred.
Angina pectoris, often known as angina, is a form of chest discomfort that can result from atherosclerosis in the arteries surrounding the heart. It is still possible to have atherosclerosis without realizing it, though, until angina manifests.
Continue reading to find out about further possible atherosclerosis symptoms as well as how doctors identify and manage the condition.
Can you have atherosclerosis (ASCL) without angina pectoris (chest pain)?
Angina is a pain in the chest that develops when coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition caused by atherosclerosis, damages the arteries that feed blood to the heart. In the US, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent kind of heart disease.
Because of clogged or restricted arteries, the heart's tissue isn't getting enough oxygen-rich blood, which results in angina pain. Atherosclerosis, however, is not always accompanied by angina.
For instance, atherosclerosis may have a greater impact on other arteries in your body than on your heart. Atherosclerosis affects arteries other than the heart. It's also typical in the neck and lower limb arteries.
This means that in addition to angina, you can also have other atherosclerosis-related signs and symptoms. For instance, decreased blood flow to the legs due to atherosclerosis in the lower body's arteries can cause discomfort, cramping, and numbness.
Atherosclerosis can also occur in people who show no symptoms at all. We refer to this as preclinical atherosclerosis.
What to know about subclinical atherosclerosis
When a doctor finds plaque accumulation in your arteries but you don't have any symptoms or problems related to atherosclerosis, this is known as subclinical atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a gradual, long-term illness. It usually progresses slowly over time, with the development of plaques requiring the completion of multiple discrete processes.
This implies that atherosclerosis can appear early in life and go years without causing any symptoms. When it has advanced to the point where there is a noticeable artery constriction or blockage, symptoms, and consequences could arise.
It is unknown how common subclinical atherosclerosis is. Still, it seems to be widespread, even among those with modest cardiovascular risk.
For instance, a 2023 study discovered that more than half of individuals with low to moderate cardiovascular risk had testing-detectable subclinical atherosclerosis. The participants' average age was 57, and 58.9% of them were men.
Over 25,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 64 who had never been diagnosed with CAD were included in another trial conducted in 2021. By using a form of imaging that evaluates the amount of plaque in the coronary arteries, 42.1% of the subjects had detectable atherosclerosis.
An earlier 2015 study examining common sites of subclinical atherosclerosis in over 4,000 participants, with 63% of those participants being between the ages of 40 and 54, looked at this. The arteries that were identified to be most frequently impacted were the following:
- Iliofemoral arteries (44%): The big arteries that supply blood to your feet and legs are these.
- Carotid arteries (31%): The brain receives blood flow from the carotid arteries located in the neck.
- Aorta (25%): The biggest artery in your body, the aorta, transports blood from your heart to every part of your body.
- Coronary arteries (18%): Your heart's tissue receives blood flow from the coronary arteries.
The quest for trustworthy indicators that can inform doctors if a patient has subclinical atherosclerosis is still ongoing. To stop atherosclerosis from getting worse, it is important to identify those who are at risk early and begin therapy.
Other symptoms of atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis can affect the body in many different ways than chest pain. These may be influenced by clogged or constricted arteries.
Depending on the area of the body impacted, the following list describes the possible outcomes of atherosclerosis:
- Lower limb: Peripheral artery disease (PAD)-related atherosclerosis can cause pain, heaviness, or numbness in the legs.
- Brain: A transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, or vascular dementia can result from constricted or obstructed arteries in the brain or those supplying it.
- Kidneys: Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of the kidney's arteries. It can cause numbness or itching, weariness, nausea, and swelling in the hands or feet.
- Intestines: Atherosclerosis can cause severe pain after eating, diarrhea, and unintentional weight loss by limiting blood flow to the intestines.
- Penis: A narrowing of the arteries that supply the penis may be the cause of ED.
The body can experience simultaneous effects from atherosclerosis in several locations.
When to get medical help
If you have any of the following symptoms, which could indicate decreased blood flow:
- leg pain or numbness
- swelling in your hands or feet
- unintended weight loss
- ED
Even if atherosclerosis may not be the cause of these symptoms, there may be another illness that requires medical treatment.
Medical emergency
A heart attack may be indicated by chest pain. If your chest pain is prolonged and doesn't go away after a few minutes, call emergency medical services or visit the closest emergency facility.
Furthermore, TIA and stroke can also be attributed to atherosclerosis. Get medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- sudden dizziness
- numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- confusion
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed if you don’t have angina pectoris?
Many individuals with atherosclerosis are unaware of their condition until they experience symptoms such as angina, or chest pain. But from about the age of 20, medical professionals will routinely evaluate your risk factors for atherosclerosis.
In case you have many atherosclerosis risk factors, your physician could prescribe extra tests to look for indications of plaque accumulation in your arteries. These may include:
- blood tests
- tests associated with heart health like:
- electrocardiogram (EKG)
- CT scan for coronary artery calcium score
- exercise stress test
- ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing to look for PAD
- imaging tests of areas of concern, such as:
- echocardiogram, angiography, or MRI scan of the heart
- ultrasonography of the carotid arteries that feed blood to the brain
- CT scans or MRI scans of your head
- abdominal ultrasound
If you have symptoms other than angina that are indicative of atherosclerosis, your doctor may also order some of these tests.
Atherosclerosis treatment
Atherosclerosis cannot be treated with a single medication. Your treatment will be customized by a medical practitioner to address your unique risk factors and symptoms.
Other underlying medical disorders that contribute to atherosclerosis can be treated with medication. Among them are:
- cholesterol-lowering medications
- blood pressure medications
- diabetes drugs
- aspirin, for those who exhibit symptoms or are at high risk
A physician can open up or bypass arteries that have been blocked as a result of severe atherosclerosis using several different medical techniques.
Living with atherosclerosis
There are steps you may take if you already have atherosclerosis to help stop the building of plaque from getting worse. Among them are:
- eating a heart-healthy diet
- exercising regularly
- getting enough sleep each night
- Take steps to reduce your stress levels
- quitting smoking if you smoke
- reducing your alcohol intake or not drinking at all
- thinking about managing your weight if you're obese or overweight, or if your physician advises it
- following your doctor's instructions and taking all prescribed drugs to treat diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
- contacting your doctor for regular checkups
Takeaway
Atherosclerosis progresses gradually over time and may not show symptoms until later on. As a result, atherosclerosis may exist without causing any symptoms, such as angina.
Subclinical atherosclerosis is the term for atherosclerosis without symptoms. Subclinical atherosclerosis is thought to be widespread, and scientists are working to improve early detection of it.
Furthermore, atherosclerosis affects other parts of the body besides the heart. You may have symptoms other than angina if you have substantial arterial narrowing or blockage in other regions.
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