Actor Ray Liotta’s explanation for death one 12 months ago this month has now been revealed.
Liotta, 67, died from pulmonary edema and acute heart failure in his sleep while working on a movie within the Dominican Republic on May 26 of last 12 months, in line with documents obtained by TMZ, resulting from a condition that affects half of Americans over the age of 45: atherosclerosis.
Dubbed a “silent killer,” atherosclerosis is marked by the slow buildup of plaque in your arteries, complications of which include each pulmonary edema and acute heart failure.
Experts describe plaque as a sticky byproduct within the blood that’s made up of a mixture of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other deposits.
As plaque clogs the partitions of the vascular system, arteries turn into hard and narrow.
Eventually, the plaque can block blood flow altogether.
This will result in complications, similar to those who led to Liotta’s death.
What are the symptoms — and deadly complications — of atherosclerosis?
In keeping with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, around half of Americans between the ages of 45 and 84 have atherosclerosis and don’t realize it because the disease develops slowly and the onset of symptoms is commonly delayed until conditions have turn into dire — and too late, for some.
Most symptoms of the “silent killer” are considered medical emergencies, and in case you are experiencing them, it’s essential that you simply seek medical attention immediately.
One of the crucial common symptoms of atherosclerosis is agonizing and very painful muscle cramps in your hips and legs while you walk.
These symptoms will stop while you rest.
It might be an indicator of peripheral artery disease, which reduces blood flow to the legs and arms.
One other common symptom is a “deep, aching pain” in your abdomen area or back, which may mean that you’ve an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Chest pain during activities is also an indication of an incoming heart attack attributable to a buildup of plaque in your arteries.
Nonfatal heart attack symptoms vary from pain within the arm and chest to nausea and vomiting, cold sweats and shortness of breath.
Atherosclerosis might also induce a “mini-stroke,” formally generally known as a transient ischemic attack, which involves a sudden, severe headache, numbness or weakness on one side of your body and difficulty in moving your body or forming thoughts.
This complication of atherosclerosis indicates a patient might be headed for a bigger, full-on stroke.
How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?
Other than the aforementioned physical signals, atherosclerosis could also be diagnosed with the assistance of a blood panel to detect high cholesterol and blood sugar, or a stress test and EKG readings to disclose anomalies in heart rate.
A Doppler ultrasound might also be used: iI takes blood pressure readings within the ankles and arms, showing blips in blood flow throughout the body.
Peering deeper into the vascular system, a coronary calcium scan can see the quantity of calcium within the partitions of your coronary arteries.
How is atherosclerosis treated?
Atherosclerosis could be treated if caught in time. Lifestyle changes similar to quitting smoking, eating healthily and exercising more are sometimes the primary steps suggested by doctors.
There are also certain medications that can assist to treat the disease, similar to blood thinners and statin, which helps lower cholesterol.
In cases of severe buildup, a catheter may also be inserted in a blood vessel, thereby reopening the pathway to the guts.
Who’s most liable to atherosclerosis?
Patients over 45 who’re diagnosed with hypertension, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol are considered by medical examiners to be at a better risk for developing atherosclerosis.
Genetics, too, plays a very important role and should result in the disease’s development despite the patient having no obvious risk aspects.
