Calcification of the aorta can cause a heart attack because it causes this blood vessel to lose its natural elasticity, preventing good blood circulation. Infarction occurs when calcium plaque completely prevents blood from passing or when part of that plaque detaches from the aortic wall. and blocks a smaller blood vessel, preventing blood from reaching the heart muscle. In addition to infarction, calcification of the aorta can also cause a stroke or aneurysm, which is an expansion of the aortic wall.
Atheromatous calcification of the aorta occurs when there is a buildup of calcium next to a fat plaque, which occurs mainly in people with uncontrolled high cholesterol, which is the main cause of aortic calcification. Learn how to identify aortic atheromatosis.
The risk of aortic calcification increases with age and its main causes are:
People with high cholesterol, overweight, smoking or drinking alcohol also have an increased risk of developing aorta calcification.
Symptoms of aortic calcification are not specific, but they can usually occur:
Diagnosis of aortic calcification can be done by tests such as angiography, ultrasound, x-rays, CT scans or MRI, the doctor will recommend the test based on the characteristics of the person, and may even request other types of tests to perform a better evaluation of heart function.
Treatment of aortic calcification can be done with cholesterol control medications and lifestyle changes, including reduced sugars and fats in the diet and frequent physical activity. In more severe cases, your doctor may need surgery. Learn more about the treatment of aortic calcification.
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body, responsible for receiving all blood coming out of the heart and distributing it to the rest of the body. Leaving the heart, the aorta bends and moves toward the chest and abdomen, dividing into smaller vessels along its path through the body, in order to irrigate all other organs and tissues, therefore, the description of the diagnosis of calcification of the aorta depends on where the excess calcium is located , can be: calcification of the abdominal aorta, if calcium is deposited in the part of the aorta passing through the belly or calcification of the chest aorta, if excess calcium is in the chest part.