What is atherosclerosis of the aorta?
Atherosclerosis of the aorta is a progressive buildup of plaque in the largest artery in your body, called your aorta. This condition is also known as aortic atherosclerosis. Plaque is a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol and other components. Plaque starts forming in your arteries during childhood, and it gradually builds up more as you get older.
Plaque can form anywhere in your aorta, which is more than 1 foot long and extends from your heart to your pelvis. However, severe plaque buildup is most likely to occur in your abdominal aorta. This is the section of your aorta that runs through your belly.
People who have aortic atherosclerosis may also have plaque in other arteries throughout their body. These include the arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary arteries) and brain (carotid arteries). That’s because atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, meaning it affects your entire body. So, plaque buildup in one artery often signals you have plaque in other arteries, too.
How does atherosclerosis of the aorta affect my body?
Atherosclerosis of the aorta leads to plaque buildup in your aorta. This is the major pipeline that sends out blood to your entire body. Many smaller arteries branch off your aorta to carry oxygen-rich blood in different directions (like up to your brain and down to your legs). Atherosclerosis in your aorta disrupts the normal flow of blood through your aorta and to the rest of your body. So, it raises your risk of ischemia (lack of oxygen-rich blood) in many different organs and tissues.
When you think of plaque buildup in your artery, you probably imagine a piece of plaque getting bigger until it blocks blood flow. While this can happen in some of your arteries, it’s less likely to happen in your aorta. That’s because your aorta has a wide diameter. So, blood can still flow through even if there’s plaque along your aorta’s walls.
The main problem with plaque buildup in your aorta is that it raises the risk of an embolus. An embolus is any object that travels through your bloodstream until it gets stuck and can’t go any further. When an embolus is stuck in one of your arteries, it immediately blocks your blood flow.
Plaque growth is gradual, like soap scum building up in the pipe below your bathroom sink. But an embolus is a sudden blockage. It’s as if you dropped the cap to your toothpaste straight down into the drain. The cap would become lodged in the pipe and block water flow.
Atherosclerosis of the aorta can trigger two different types of emboli (the plural form of “embolus”):
- Thromboembolism, which is made of blood. Blood clots can form on the plaque’s surface. One of these blood clots can then break away from the plaque and travel through your bloodstream.
- Atheroembolism, which is made of cholesterol crystals from the plaque. The plaque itself can rupture (break open). A piece of the plaque can then break away and travel through your bloodstream. Atheroembolisms are less common than thromboembolisms.
In either case, an object is traveling through your blood when it shouldn’t be. These emboli are the main complication of aortic atherosclerosis.
How an embolus affects your body depends on where it ends up getting stuck. The embolus blocks blood flow to that area, leading to ischemia (lack of oxygen-rich blood). Without enough oxygen, the organ and tissues in that area quickly become damaged.
How serious is atherosclerosis of the aorta?
Atherosclerosis of the aorta can lead to a life-threatening medical emergency. This happens when an embolus breaks away from the plaque and travels somewhere else in your body, blocking blood flow there.
Atherosclerosis of the aorta raises your risk of medical emergencies, including:
- Acute ischemic colitis: Blocked blood flow to your colon.
- Acute limb ischemia: Blocked blood flow to your limbs, usually your legs.
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack): Blocked blood flow to your heart.
- Renal infarction: Blocked blood flow to your kidneys.
- Splenic infarction: Blocked blood flow to your spleen.
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA): Blocked blood flow to your brain.
Plaque buildup in your aorta can also weaken its walls and raise your risk for an aortic aneurysm. Aneurysm ruptures and dissections can be fatal and require immediate medical attention.
Who does atherosclerosis of the aorta affect?
Atherosclerosis of the aorta can affect anyone. It’s a common condition. Your risk goes up as you get older.
