What
Is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a common condition that develops when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside your
Atherosclerosis
develops slowly as cholesterol, fat, blood cells and other substances in your
blood form plaque. When the plaque builds up, it causes your arteries to
narrow. This reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to tissues of vital organs
in the body.online medicine
Atherosclerosis can
affect most of the arteries in the body, including arteries in the heart,
brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. It has different names based on which
arteries are affected.
·
Coronary
artery disease (CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart.
·
Peripheral
artery disease (PAD) most
often is plaque buildup in the arteries of the legs,
but it can also build up in your arms or pelvis.
·
Carotid
artery disease is plaque
buildup in the neck arteries. It reduces blood flow to the brain.
·
Renal
artery stenosis is plaque
buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys.
·
Vertebralartery disease is
atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the back of the brain.
This area of the brain controls body functions that are needed to keep you alive.
·
Mesenteric
artery Ischemia is plaque buildup in the arteries that
supply the intestines with blood. Learn more about plaque buildup in the mesenteric arteries external link.
Reduced blood flow can
lead to symptoms such as angina. If a plaque bursts, a blood clot may
form that may block the artery completely or travel to other parts of the body.
Blockages, either complete or incomplete, can cause complications,
including heart attack, stroke, vascular dementia, erectile dysfunction, or limb loss. Atherosclerosis can
cause death and
disability.Read more
Plaque often starts to
build up during childhood and gets worse with age. Risk factors include unhealthy cholesterol levels, unhealthy lifestyle
habits, and your genes.
