atherosclerosis

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Word: Atherosclerosis

Definition: Atherosclerosis is a medical condition where fatty deposits, called atheromas, build up inside the walls of arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries and can make it harder for blood to flow through them.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Atherosclerosis is a noun.
• Context: It is often used in health and medical discussions, particularly when talking about heart disease or blood circulation issues.

Example Sentence:

• "Doctors say that atherosclerosis can lead to serious health problems, like heart attacks and strokes."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, atherosclerosis may be linked to other health topics, such as: - Risk Factors: Discussing how high cholesterol, smoking, and lack of exercise can contribute to atherosclerosis. - Prevention: Talking about lifestyle changes that can help prevent or manage atherosclerosis, such as diet and exercise.

Word Variants:

• Atherosclerotic (adjective): Describing something related to or affected by atherosclerosis.
  • Example: "The patient has atherosclerotic changes in their blood vessels."

Different Meaning:

In a strict medical sense, atherosclerosis refers specifically to the buildup of fats in arteries, but in broader discussions about health, it often represents the risks associated with heart disease.

Synonyms:

• Hardening of the arteries: This phrase is often used interchangeably with atherosclerosis.
• Arterial plaque buildup: Referring specifically to the fatty deposits that cause atherosclerosis.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "atherosclerosis," you might hear phrases related to heart health or blood flow, like "to clear the arteries," which means to remove blockages and improve heart health.

Summary:

Atherosclerosis is an important term in health discussions, especially regarding heart disease.

Academic

Noun

1. a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls, thus narrowing the arteries

Synonyms

• coronary artery disease