What Causes Aortic Calcification?

Brief Answer:
Need more details

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

There are two different entities with nearly same name. One is Aortic valve calcification and the other is Thoracic/abdominal aortic calcification. I want you to clarify me which one of them is you want to know about. Both are different conditions with different cause and effects.

I would like to know which test has indicated the calcification. If you have the report please do share with me. Also, if you have got blood cholesterol estimation test done recently please do attach the same here.

Waiting for your response,

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Brief Answer:
Aorta calcification

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing back.

Since there are high cholesterol levels, I believe you could be having calcification of the aorta.

Aorta is a big blood vessel that runs in the chest and abdomen arising from the heart. When the cholesterol in the blood is high especially LDL cholesterol, there occur plaques of fat in the blood vessel wall which are called atheroma (atherosclerosis) which later after some time get calcified. This is called aoritc calcification.

These may sometimes block the blood vessel if in smaller blood vessels. Since aorta is a big vessel there is risk of these calcific spots to get dislodged and run in circulation only to block a distant smaller blood vessel and cause ischemia of the involved part. If brain is affected it leads to stroke, if heart it leads to heart attack.

Hope, I answered your query.

Wish you good health.

Regards,

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