*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is where your arteries become narrowed, making it difficult for blood to flow through them. It increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Lifestyle changes, like stopping smoking, eating healthily and exercising regularly, can help stop atherosclerosis getting worse.

Check if you have atherosclerosis

You may not have any symptoms of atherosclerosis, but symptoms can include:

chest pain
pain in your arms and legs, especially when exercising
feeling short of breath
feeling tired all the time
feeling weak
feeling confused

If you're over 40 you can get a free NHS health check which can spot the early signs of heart disease and stroke, as well as kidney disease, dementia and type 2 diabetes.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have chest pain that comes and goes
you feel short of breath
you have pain in your arms and legs when walking or exercising

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Causes of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis happens when fatty deposits build up in the arteries, which causes them to narrow.

Things that increase your chances of getting atherosclerosis include:

being over 65 years of age
smoking
having high cholesterol
having high blood pressure
having close relatives who have cardiovascular disease

Things you can do to help with atherosclerosis

There are some things you can do to help stop atherosclerosis getting worse:

Do

eat healthily and eat less saturated fat and sugar
exercise regularly
maintain a healthy weight
keep your blood sugar levels under control if you have diabetes

Don't

do not smoke
do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week

Treatments for atherosclerosis

There are currently no treatments to reverse atherosclerosis, but you may be offered medicines to lower your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.

You may need medicines to:

lower your cholesterol (statins)
lower your blood pressure
lower your risk of blood clots
lower your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes

You may also need surgery to help improve blood flow through the affected arteries.

Complications of atherosclerosis

Without lifestyle changes and medical treatment, atherosclerosis may get worse over time.

It can cause:

Call 999 if you have:

signs of a heart attack - pain like a tight band or heavy weight in your chest
signs of a stroke - face dropping on 1 side, cannot hold both your arms up, difficulty speaking
difficulty breathing - gasping for breath, choking, not able to get any words out
sudden confusion - unable to think or speak clearly, suddenly do not know where you are

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.