Atherosclerosis

Every organ and tissue in the body needs a supply of fresh, oxygen-rich blood. That blood is delivered to all parts of the body through blood vessels called arteries. A healthy artery is like a clean pipe: It has a smooth lining and is free of blockages that interfere with blood flow. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of cholesterol-filled deposits called plaque on the inner walls of arteries. Plaque narrows the vessels and slows down blood flow. Atherosclerosis can occur in any artery inthe body, from those nourishing the heart (coronary arteries) to those supplying the brain, intestines, kidneys, and legs. Atherosclerosis begins as microscopic damage to the inner lining of an artery wall. Many forces can cause this damage, including high blood pressure, cigarette smoke, diabetes, high cholesterol, conditions that cause blood to clot more easily, drugs such as cocaine and androgens, and possibly infections of the inner linings of the arteries. The first signs of damage are fatty streaks called plaque in the artery wall. These fatty streaks begin early in life and even occur in young adults. Whatever causes the initial damage, the result is that platelets from the bloodstream gather at the site, soon to be joined by a gruel-like mixture of cholesterol and other fats, calcium deposits, and cell debris. Cells from the wall of the artery gradually surround the mixture. The artery wall becomes inflamed; white blood cells become activated, race to the injured area, and try unsucce...

Atherosclerosis is a hardening of your arteries due to gradual plaque buildup. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, lack of exercise and a diet high in saturated fat. Atherosclerosis develops over time and may not show symptoms until you have complications like a heart attack or stroke. Overview What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque in the walls of your arteries. As plaque builds up, your artery wall grows thicker and harder. This “hardening of the arteries” is usually a silent process in the early stages. You may not notice symptoms for a long time. But eventually, as the plaque grows, the opening (lumen) of your artery narrows, leaving less room for blood to flow. This means less blood can reach your organs and tissues. Plus, the constant force of blood flow can lead to plaque erosion or rupture, causing a A narrowed artery is like a highway reduced to one lane. But a blood clot is like a barricade in the middle of the road. It blocks blood flow to certain organs or tissue the artery normally feeds. The effects on your body depend on where the blood clot forms. For example, blockages in a But there’s a reason for hope. You can lower your risk for atherosclerosis, or slow its progression, by making lifestyle changes and managing underlying conditions. Research shows some treatments can reduce the size of plaque in your arteries (plaque regression) or change its chemical makeup, so i...

The word “atherosclerosis” comes from the Greek words “athero” (“paste”) and “sclerosi s” (“hardness”). This is why the condition is also called “hardening of the arteries.” The disease starts slowly and progresses over time. If you have high cholesterol, the excess cholesterol can eventually collect and deposit in the artery walls. The body can then react to the buildup by sending white blood cells to attack it, much like they’d attack a bacterial infection, and inflammation can occur. The cells can undergo changes or die after eating the cholesterol, and the dead cells can also begin to collect in the artery. This can lead to inflammation. When inflammation lasts for a longer period, scarring, stiffening, and calcification can happen. By this stage, the plaque formed in the arteries typically hardens. When arteries become narrow, blood may be unable to get to the areas that it needs to reach. There may also be a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. This can happen if a blood clot breaks away from another area in the body. The clot could then get stuck in the narrow artery and cut off blood supply completely. Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist at He also explains that “in the studies that have been done so far, the amount of reduction in plaque buildup that’s seen over the course of 1 or 2 years is measured in a 100th of a millimeter.” Medical treatment, regular exercise, and dietary changes can be used to keep atherosclerosis from getting worse and stabilize the pl...