What does it mean if you have calcification of the abdominal aorta?

Aortic valve calcification is a condition in which calcium deposits form on the aortic valve in the heart. These deposits can cause narrowing at the opening of the aortic valve. This narrowing can become severe enough to reduce blood flow through the aortic valve — a condition called aortic valve stenosis.

How serious is abdominal aortic calcification?

Abdominal aortic calcification is shown to contribute to arterial stiffness and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality.

What does atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta mean?

Having atherosclerosis (say “ath-uh-roh-skluh-ROH-sis”) of the aorta means that a material called plaque (fat and calcium) has built up in the inside wall of a large blood vessel called the aorta. This plaque buildup is sometimes called “hardening of the arteries.”

What causes abdominal aortic calcification?

Risk factors for the progression of calcified atherosclerosis in general, and specifically for aortic calcification, include age,[6,17–19] hypertension, smoking,[6,20] dyslipidemia, exercise level (negatively related), chronic kidney disease, and ethnicity.

Is calcification of the abdominal aorta normal?

Calcification of the abdominal aorta is not an uncommon finding in the routine roentgen investigation of the lumbar area. While this condition has not been frequently reported, it is probably more common than is usually supposed.

How do you reverse abdominal aortic calcification?

Currently no clinical therapy is available to prevent or reverse this type of vascular calcification. Some possible targets to block and regress calcification include local and circulating inhibitors of calcification as well as factors that may ameliorate vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis [2].

What is the treatment for aortic calcification?

Calcific aortic stenosis is the primary cause of valvular heart disease in developed countries. Currently, the only established treatment for calcific aortic stenosis is surgical valve replacement.

What are the causes of calcification in abdominal aorta?

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states that some of the causes of calcification in the abdominal aorta include high blood sugar or diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol level.

Can calcification of aorta be reversed by diet?

Mild calcification of the aorta is not a major concern. This occurs when there are cholesterol plaques formed in the vessels. It is possible to reverse some of this if you can get your LDL cholesterol to a very low level. This is hard to do with diet and exercise alone.

What is treatment for calcified aorta?

There are many medications on the market made to treat the calcification of the abdominal aorta; talk to your doctor about what medication is best for you. By taking medications such as statins and fibrates, you will be lowering your cholesterol levels and thus reducing plaque buildup within your abdominal aorta.

Is atherosclerotic calcification of the aorta dangerous?

The calcifications themselves are not a risk to you. However, finding evidence of atherosclerosis in your aorta probably means you have atherosclerosis in the arteries of your heart and brain. This increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

What does it mean if you have calcification of the abdominal aorta? Aortic valve calcification is a condition in which calcium deposits form on the aortic valve in the heart. These deposits can cause narrowing at the opening of the aortic valve. This narrowing can become severe enough to reduce blood flow through the aortic…