What is the rate of arterial plaque buildup?

Question

I have heard that it take quite a while. How long would it take for 75% blockage in LAD? Would it be detectable two years prior to diagnosis

Answer 1

That would depend on the person's genes, how much he smokes, what type of fatty foods he eats, etc. Arterial blockages usually take a lifetime to develop into 75% range. Faster if you have crappy genes or smoke a lot, but usually it takes quite a while. "Would it be detectable two years prior to diagnosis" do you mean will you have symptoms? Yes, you would start to get short of breath, possible pressure in your chest or pain in your jaws or left arm, and pain during exertion....escalating to pain when not doing anything.

Answer 2

I had a 95% blocked LAD. They told me I'm one lucky person because that artery is refered to as the "widow maker" when it occludes! I also have an 80% LAD blockage in a smaller artery that is not repairable and two 40% blockages in the circumflex that someday might require intervention.
I have no idea how long it takes to occlude, I was 50 when I had mine stented. Now I take more drugs than cotter has pills but what can you do?
My signs that something was wrong was :
Shortness of Breath
Nagging Cough
Out of Control Blood Pressure ( Cardiologist could not get it under control with any medications)
Stress Test was abnormal
EKG had abnormal T-Wave
50 BPM heart rate ( which is good for folks with coronary heart disease)
The best way for diagnoses is the "cath lab"! That's the only sure answer and guaranteed diagnosis!

Answer 3

The rate of atherosclerosis (plaque narrowing the arteries) varies among person to person. It is by no means something that happens over night but there are ways to slow down the process. It really depends on genetics and lifestyle mainly. Eating a healthy diet and exercising are 2 easy ways to decrease cholesterol in your blood that contributes to atherosclerosis. The major risk of atherosclerosis is risk of heart attack or stroke. Plaque can break off of the artery occluding major vessels that feed the heart or brain. One of those major vessles you mentioned, the LAD is a large coronary artery that feeds the heart with blood. Whether occlusion of that artery would be detectable 2 yrs before diagnosis depends on what types of tests the person received. Often the person is assymptomatic until a heart attack or stroke. I hope this is helpful! :)