Artery Plaque HF#5818

 

Plaques start by damage to the fragile lining of the inner walls of an artery.  If blood lipid levels are high, cholesterol forms inside the plaque.  These small plaques are not found during stress tests.  They do not block blood flow enough.  Further damage to the plaque causes it to grow. Once in a while, a plaque will rupture, causing a heart attack or chest pain (angina).  More than half of all heart attacks are caused by a small plaque breaking open.

 

Stable plaque has a thick cap and a small lipid core.  As it grows and blocks the artery, other vessels grow in to supply blood to the heart muscle.

 

 

Unstable plaque has a thin cap over a large lipid core.  If this cap breaks or tears, a blood clot forms.  Sudden complete blockages of the vessel results in a heart attack.

 

Ruptured Plaque

 

Rupture Plaque with Thrombus

 

My Cholesterol Levels Log

 

Name: _____________________________________________

 

Medical Record #: ________________________________________

 

Procedure/Date: _____________________________________

 

My cholesterol-lowering medicine: __________________________

 

• Call your local doctor and schedule a visit for ____________________.  Cholesterol levels drawn sooner than this may result in a false reading.  To get an accurate test result, you need to fast 12 hours before having your blood drawn.

 

Blood cholesterol	My Goal	Date:	Date:	Date:	Date:
LDL (bad cholesterol)	Less than 100
Triglycerides (a form of fat)	Less than 150
HDL (good cholesterol)	More than 40
Total cholesterol	Less than 160 with blood vessel disease   Less than 200 without blood vessel disease

 

LDL Low density lipoprotein	Triglycerides	HDL High density lipoprotein	Total cholesterol
“Bad” cholesterol Builds up in arteries To lower LDL: eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and take medicine.	A form of fat Come from food and are made by the body To lower: exercise, lose weight, manage your blood sugar levels, decrease intake of alcohol, saturated fats, and cholesterol.	“Good” cholesterol Takes cholesterol away from the arteries To increase HDL: exercise, lose weight, and stop smoking.	Number you most often receive Tells us your risk of heart disease

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 02/27/2013

Copyright © 02/27/2013 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#5818

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