Arteriosclerosis, also called atherosclerosis, is a systemic disease of the arterial blood vessels that leads to a hardening of the arteries caused by an accumulation of blood lipids, blood clots (thrombi), connective tissue, and sometimes local inflammation forming plaques (lime) along the walls inside the vessels.
Arteriosclerosis happens when the walls of the arteries lose their elasticity and become hard and thick. Arteries are blood vessels that transport oxygen and important nutrients from the heart to other parts of the body. The hardening of these arteries restricts sometimes blood to flow to the tissues and organs. The plaques in the walls of arteries can burst, causing a blood clot. Even if atherosclerosis, which is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, is understood often as a heart condition, it can happen in arteries located in other parts of the body. The condition is treatable and can be prevented.
Arteriosclerosis and the illnesses that result from it are the most common cause of death in industrial countries. Risk factors for developing arteriosclerosis include: high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, increase in blood lipids (especially cholesterol), diabetes, being overweight, a diet rich in calories and fats, lack of exercise, and stress. Men and the elderly are more likely to be affected and it tends to run in families. The disease may not show any symptoms at first, until signs such as circulation disorders, blood clots, heart attacks, stroke, or sudden death occur.
Diseases that result from arteriosclerosis include coronary artery disease with accompanying chest pain (angina pectoris), heart attack, stroke, and smoker’s leg (see the corresponding articles). For the prevention of arteriosclerosis and resulting diseases, the following measures are recommended: regular daily exercise, a Mediterranean diet (little fat, lots of vegetables, fish, and fiber), avoiding nicotine products or quitting smoking, and controlling levers of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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