Atherosclerosis happens when the endothelium becomes damaged, due to factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, or high levels of glucose, fat, and cholesterol in the blood. This damage allows a collection of substances, known as plaque, to build up in the artery wall. These substances include fat and cholesterol. If plaque continues to collect, it can block the artery and disrupt the flow of blood around the body.
Sometimes, pieces of plaque break open. If this happens, particles from blood cells, known as platelets, gather in the affected area. These can stick together, forming blood clots. A clot can block the artery, leading to life threatening complications, such as stroke and heart attack.
Atherosclerosis can affect any artery, but it mainly occurs in the larger, high pressure arteries. Find out the difference between a stroke and a heart attack, and how to recognize each, here.
Atherosclerosis usually affects older people, but it can start to develop during adolescence. Inside the artery, streaks of white blood cells will appear on the artery wall. Often, there are no symptoms until a bit of plaque ruptures, or the blood flow becomes restricted. This may take many years to occur. Coronary arteries provide blood to the heart. When the blood supply to the heart falls, it can cause angina and heart attack. Learn more about coronary artery disease here.
Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive, vascular disease that may start as early as childhood. However, the disease has the potential to progress rapidly. It is generally characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits along the innermost layer of the arteries. If the disease process progresses, plaque formation may take place. This thickening narrows the arteries and can decrease blood flow or completely block the flow of blood to organs and other body tissues and structures.
Some scientists think that certain risk factors may be associated with atherosclerosis, including:. There is a gradual build-up of plaque or thickening of the inside of the walls of the artery, causing a decrease in the amount of blood flow, and a decrease in the oxygen supply to the vital body organs and extremities. A heart attack may occur if the oxygenated blood supply is reduced to the heart.
A stroke may occur if the oxygenated blood supply is cut off to the brain. Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials. Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. This buildup may occur in any artery in your body, including around your heart, legs, brain, and kidneys. It can result in a shortage of blood and oxygen in various tissues of your body.
Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood clot. Without treatment, atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack , stroke , or heart failure , among other conditions. Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. This condition can be prevented and many successful treatment options exist. Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries. Both of these can be caused by atherosclerosis and require immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of a heart attack include:. The symptoms of stroke include:. Heart attack and stroke are both medical emergencies. When plaque builds up and the arteries become hard and inflamed, blood has trouble flowing through them to the rest of the body. This prevents your organs and tissues from getting the oxygenated blood they need to function.
If the levels of cholesterol in your blood are too high, it can clog your arteries. It becomes a hard plaque that restricts or blocks blood circulation to your heart and other organs. As you age, your heart and blood vessels work harder to pump and receive blood. Your arteries may stiffen and become less elastic, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup. Your doctor will perform a physical exam if you have symptoms of atherosclerosis.
A cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any atypical sounds. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis.
Treatment involves changing your current lifestyle to decrease the amount of fat and cholesterol you consume. You can exercise more to improve the health of your heart and blood vessels.
Atherosclerosis can be treated. Healthy lifestyle habits can help prevent atherosclerosis. You usually won't have atherosclerosis symptoms until an artery is so narrowed or clogged that it can't supply enough blood to your organs and tissues. Sometimes a blood clot completely blocks blood flow, or even breaks apart and can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms of moderate to severe atherosclerosis depend on which arteries are affected. For example:.
If you think you have atherosclerosis, talk to your doctor. Also pay attention to early symptoms of inadequate blood flow, such as chest pain angina , leg pain or numbness. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop atherosclerosis from worsening and prevent a heart attack, stroke or another medical emergency. If you have too many cholesterol particles in your blood, cholesterol may accumulate on your artery walls. Eventually, deposits called plaques may form.
The deposits may narrow — or block — your arteries. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot to form. Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may begin as early as childhood. Although the exact cause is unknown, atherosclerosis may start with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery. The damage may be caused by:. Once the inner wall of an artery is damaged, blood cells and other substances often clump at the injury site and build up in the inner lining of the artery.
Over time, fatty deposits plaque made of cholesterol and other cellular products also build up at the injury site and harden, narrowing your arteries. The organs and tissues connected to the blocked arteries then don't receive enough blood to function properly. In addition, the smooth lining of the plaque may rupture, spilling cholesterol and other substances into your bloodstream.
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