Arteriosclerosis is different from atherosclerosis. Statins and aspirin are not both necessary.

An elderly friend told Huazi that he had read a popular science article written by Huazi, which said that people with a large "pressure difference" have hardening of the aorta. He asked Huazi, his systolic pressure is 160mmHg and diastolic pressure is 70mmHg, so the "pressure difference" is very large. If a person has hardening of the aorta, does he need to take statins and aspirin to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases?

Huazi told him that only people with atherosclerosis need to use statins and aspirin, but people with arteriosclerosis do not need to take them. Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not the same thing. If there is no atherosclerosis, then it is enough to just control the blood pressure.

1. Arteriosclerosis is related to aging. Arteriosclerosis refers to the thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity of the arterial wall. The essential reason is that the fibers in the arterial wall undergo degenerative changes and lose elasticity; the arterial smooth muscle proliferates and loses elasticity. The occurrence of arteriosclerosis is mainly related to aging. The hardening process begins in adolescence and then gradually worsens with aging.

Hypertension can accelerate the process of arteriosclerosis, because high blood pressure will put excessive pressure on the arteries, which will accelerate the elasticity degradation of arterial fibers and smooth muscles. Arteries that lose elasticity will increase the resistance of the heart to pump blood, further increasing blood pressure. In other words, hypertension and arteriosclerosis are mutually causal, forming a vicious cycle, and are the main risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage.

2. Atherosclerosis is the damage to the arterial intima. Atherosclerosis refers to the damage to the arterial intima caused by factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and obesity. Cholesterol enters the arterial intima from the damaged area, undergoes oxidation and inflammatory stimulation, and is then swallowed by macrophages, converted into foam cells and deposited in the arterial intima, forming the lipid core of atherosclerotic plaques.

The danger of atherosclerosis is that some plaques are unstable. Under factors such as arterial contraction, spasm, and blood flow, unstable plaques are prone to rupture, and the surface of ruptured plaques will activate platelets to aggregate and form thrombi. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.

3. The treatment methods of the two are different. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis, but the formation mechanisms of the two are different, the risks they cause are also different, and the medications used in treatment are also different.

Hypertension and aging are factors closely related to arteriosclerosis. Aging cannot be prevented, but as long as hypertension is well controlled, the progression of arteriosclerosis can be slowed down. Antihypertensive drugs are needed to control blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, preferably below 130/80 mmHg, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of cerebral hemorrhage.

To treat atherosclerosis, first of all, you need to use drugs to control the "three highs", quit smoking, lose weight, and develop healthy living habits. This can avoid damage to the arterial lining and prevent the further progression of plaques. Then, statins should be used to fight atherosclerosis, which can increase the density of plaques, reduce their volume, transform unstable plaques into stable plaques, and reduce the risk of rupture. Long-term use of drugs can also reverse plaques.

If the plaque is highly unstable, aspirin should also be taken to inhibit platelets. When the plaque ruptures, it can prevent platelet aggregation and avoid thrombosis, effectively preventing the occurrence of thrombotic diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.

In summary, arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not the same thing, and the formation mechanisms of the two are different. The treatment of arteriosclerosis is mainly to control high blood pressure, while atherosclerosis, in addition to controlling the underlying disease, also requires taking statins and aspirin to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

However, some people may have both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis, so the specific medication needs to be diagnosed by a doctor and carried out under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist in time. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.