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Atherosclerosis
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Atherosclerosis is a process in which fatty substances, cholesterol, calcium and other substances are deposited in the inner lining of medium and large arteries. This build up occurs in irregular patches called plaques.
Plaques may grow large enough to reduce blood flow through the artery. When this occurs in the arteries of the heart, it is called coronary artery disease (CAD).
Plaques can also become fragile and rupture. A blood clot (a thrombus) develops over a ruptured plaque or other damaged areas of the artery wall and this may block blood flow through the artery. Bits of the blood clot may break off and travel to another part of the body, where they can lodge in a blood vessel and cause a blockage (an embolism).
Atherosclerosis can lead to blockages:
- in the brain (causing a stroke or transient ischaemic attack, TIA)
- in the heart (causing angina or a heart attack)
- in the lungs (causing a pulmonary embolism)
- in the limbs (causing a painful condition called intermittent claudication, and gangrene)
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that starts in childhood. In some individuals, atherosclerosis progresses rapidly when they are adults. Atherosclerosis and damage to the artery wall is caused by:
- high cholesterol levels in the blood (particularly low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol)
- high blood pressure
- tobacco smoke
Strictly speaking, atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is an abnormal thickening and hardening of the arteries with a loss of elasticity. It develops with age, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids (e.g. cholesterol) and other conditions.
