The older you are, the more likely you are to have atherosclerosis. However, this does not mean that plaque is only the "patent" of the elderly. Now the prevalence of young adults in their 30s and 40s is also increasing, so we need to take it seriously. The circulatory system of the human body is very complex, with a variety of blood vessels. Cardiology experts came to uncover five kinds of blood vessels that are more likely to form atherosclerosis and blockage. The carotid artery directly connects to the brain, located in the anterior part of the neck and on both sides of the trachea, and its importance is self-evident. Carotid artery presents a unique "Y" shape structure, so it is easy to block at the bifurcation, and clinically, atherosclerotic plaque often accumulates in the carotid artery. Generally speaking, around the age of 40, plaques of varying sizes begin to appear on the carotid artery; By around the age of 60, carotid artery plaques have become the norm, although the severity varies and needs to be treated on a case by case basis. When plaques accumulate in the coronary arteries, it can lead to coronary heart disease and other serious conditions. The cause of most acute myocardial infarction is the rupture of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, which leads to acute occlusion of the lumen after thrombosis, followed by myocardial necrosis, and sudden death in severe cases, which is very dangerous. The arterial blood flowing out of the heart through the peripheral arteries passes through the aorta, iliac artery, femoral artery, popliteal artery, and arteries of the lower leg, providing nutrition for the lower limbs. If there is stenosis or plaque blockage in the peripheral arteries, the blood flow to the lower limbs will decrease or even be interrupted. Poor blood circulation can lead to symptoms such as pain, numbness, swelling, and chills in the lower limbs. Some people may experience particularly obvious symptoms during activities, such as intermittent claudication. Aortic atherosclerosis is mainly manifested by lipid deposition in the intima of the large and middle arteries. Men over 40 years old have a relatively high risk of disease. Typical manifestations include decreased aortic elasticity, widened pulse pressure, and in severe cases, aortic aneurysm (most commonly occurring below the renal artery opening in the abdominal aorta, followed by the aortic arch and descending aorta). Some elderly people in the renal artery were admitted to hospital for diagnosis and treatment due to blood pressure fluctuations. B-ultrasound examination showed that both kidneys were shrunk and renal function was abnormal. Further exploration found that renal atherosclerosis resulted in insufficient renal perfusion due to stenosis and occlusion of the lumen. In the early stages, there are generally no obvious abnormalities, but as the condition progresses, symptoms such as fatigue, lower back pain, and increased nocturia may occur. Why is carotid plaque examination the most common? It is worth mentioning that the most commonly heard examination is the "carotid plaque" examination. This is mainly because the carotid artery is very superficial, and ultrasound examination is easier to detect and evaluate, mostly for the sake of convenience. In fact, the presence of plaques at any location is disadvantageous. In addition, many people consider the size of plaques as the most dangerous factor, but in fact, the most frightening thing is not the size of plaques, but the instability of plaques, which are "soft" and vulnerable plaques. This is like dumplings with large filling and thin skin that are easily boiled and broken, which can be very troublesome once damaged, so they should be taken seriously. (New Society)