{"id":4176,"date":"2026-06-12T19:51:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=4176"},"modified":"2026-07-08T09:17:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T06:17:41","slug":"reduction-of-the-risk-of-atherosclerosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/reduction-of-the-risk-of-atherosclerosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessing the risks of atherosclerosis: how to recognize the \u00absilent killer\u00bb in time\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"1\">Atherosclerosis is often called the \u00absilent killer,\u00bb and that\u2019s no exaggeration. The disease can develop in the body for years without any symptoms, until it manifests itself as a sudden heart attack or stroke. The basis of this process is the formation of cholesterol plaques on the inner walls of the arteries, which leads to their narrowing and loss of elasticity.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">Since it is extremely difficult to treat the effects of atherosclerosis, the focus is on <b data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"80\">timely risk assessment<\/b>. This is a comprehensive approach that allows you to predict the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disasters in the next 5\u201310 years and take timely measures.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"4\">1. Risk Factor Screening: Where it all begins<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5\">Rating <a title=\"Disease risks: influencing factors, examples and prevention methods\" href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/risks-of-disease-factors-of-influence-examples-and-methods-of-prevention\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"94\">risk is always based on an analysis of factors<\/a>, which accelerate aging and vascular damage. They are divided into two large groups.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"6\">Factors that we cannot influence (unmodifiable):<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"7\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Age and gender:<\/b> The risk increases for men after age 45 and for women after age 55 (or after menopause).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Genetics:<\/b> The presence of early cardiovascular disease in parents, brothers or sisters (heart attack\/stroke in the father before the age of 55 or in the mother before the age of 65) significantly increases the individual risk.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"8\">Factors we can control (modified):<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"9\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lipid profile:<\/b> High levels of &quot;bad&quot; cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Blood pressure:<\/b> Constant pressure above 140\/90 mm Hg injures the walls of the arteries, facilitating the penetration of cholesterol.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Diabetes and prediabetes:<\/b> <a title=\"Blood glucose (Glucose)\" href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/analysis\/biochemical-blood-tests\/blood-glucose\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"95\">Blood glucose<\/a> acts like &quot;sandpaper&quot; for blood vessels.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lifestyle:<\/b> Smoking (one of the most powerful destroyers of blood vessels), physical inactivity (sedentary lifestyle), obesity, and chronic stress.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"11\">2. Modern risk assessment tools and scales<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">In order to reduce all these factors to a single denominator, doctors use special prognostic systems. In Europe and Ukraine, the gold standard is the scale <b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"161\">SCORE2<\/b> (and SCORE2-OP for people over 70).<\/p>\n<blockquote data-path-to-node=\"13\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"13,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">What is SCORE2?<\/b> This is an algorithm that calculates the probability of developing a cardiovascular event (both fatal and non-fatal) within the next 10 years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">To calculate, the doctor needs only 4 basic indicators:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"15\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\">Age and gender of the patient.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\">Smoking status (smoker\/non-smoker).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,2,0\">Systolic (&quot;top&quot;) blood pressure level.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,3,0\">The level of cholesterol that is not associated with HDL (so-called non-HDL cholesterol).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">Based on the results of the calculation, the patient is classified into one of four risk categories: <b data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"85\">low, moderate, high or very high<\/b>. This determines further medical tactics: from a simple change in diet to the immediate prescription of medications (for example, statins).<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"18\">3. Laboratory and instrumental diagnostics<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"19\">If the SCORE2 score is insufficient, or the patient is in the \u201cgray zone\u201d (moderate risk), <a title=\"Genetic examination: goals, methods and applications in medicine and law\" href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/genetic-expertise-of-all-methods-and-their-use-in-medicine-and-the-law\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"96\">medicine uses complementary methods<\/a> examination.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"20\">Laboratory markers:<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"21\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Advanced lipid profile:<\/b> Determination of total cholesterol, LDL (&quot;bad&quot;), HDL (&quot;good&quot;) and triglycerides.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP):<\/b> A marker of sluggish inflammation in the vascular wall, which stimulates the growth of plaques.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c):<\/b> To rule out hidden disorders of sugar metabolism.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"22\">Instrumental methods:<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"23\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"23,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"23,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Duplex scanning of the neck vessels (carotid arteries):<\/b> The easiest and safest way to literally &quot;look&quot; inside the vessels. If plaques are present in the carotid arteries, they are most likely also present in the vessels of the heart.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"23,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"23,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Coronary CT scan with calcium index determination (Coronary Calcium Scan):<\/b> Computed tomography, which detects calcium deposits in the arteries of the heart. A calcium index of \u201c0\u201d indicates minimal risk, while high numbers indicate advanced atherosclerotic disease.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"25\">4. From assessment to action: how to protect blood vessels?<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"26\">Risk assessment is not needed to scare, but to form a clear plan of action.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\">If your risk is defined as <b data-path-to-node=\"27\" data-index-in-node=\"28\">low or moderate<\/b>, usually a lifestyle modification is sufficient: switching to a Mediterranean diet (more vegetables, greens, fish, olive oil), at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, and complete cessation of smoking.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28\">If the risk <b data-path-to-node=\"28\" data-index-in-node=\"11\">high or very high<\/b>, the cardiologist will definitely add drug therapy. Modern drugs (statins, ezetimibe) are aimed at reducing LDL levels as much as possible. This not only reduces the level of fats in the blood, but also \u201ccementes\u201d existing plaques, making them stable and protecting them from rupture, which causes thrombosis.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"30\">Assessing the risk of atherosclerosis is not a one-time test, but a regular check-up. Men over 40 and women over 50 (or earlier, if there is a strong heredity) should undergo a basic screening every year with their family doctor or cardiologist. Prevention of atherosclerosis is always more effective, cheaper and safer than treating its critical consequences.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Atherosclerosis is often called the &quot;silent killer,&quot; and that&#039;s no exaggeration. The disease can develop in the body for years without any symptoms, until<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,234],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zahvoryuvannya-ta-symptomy","category-imunitet-ta-profilaktyka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}