Atherosclerosis What Is Atherosclerosis?

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Atherosclerosis is a common disease that develops when a sticky  plaque plaque (Plak):
A substance made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. In some cardiovascular diseases, plaque builds up and hardens in arteries. Plaque buildup reduces blood flow and makes it more likely that blood clots will form in the arteries. These blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart, brain, kidneys, or legs, arms, or pelvis. called plaque builds up in your  arteries artery (ARR-tuh-ree):
A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the organs. Most arteries carry oxygenated blood. The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs. . Diseases linked to atherosclerosis are the leading cause of death in the United States and the world.

Atherosclerosis develops slowly as  cholesterol cholesterol (koh-LES-teh-rol):
A waxy, fatlike substance that is found in all the cells of the body. High blood cholesterol increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. , fat, blood cells, and other substances in your blood form plaque in the walls of arteries. As plaque builds up, your arteries narrow. This reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs in the body.

A decrease in blood flow can lead to symptoms like angina. If a plaque bursts,  blood clots blood clot (blud klot):
A gel-like clump that forms when blood changes from a liquid to a solid state. Blood clots are necessary to help stop bleeding after an injury. An abnormal blood clot that forms inside an artery or vein is called a thrombus. A piece of the blood clot, called an embolus, can break off and move through the bloodstream. The embolus can block blood flow in another part of the body, such as the brain or lungs. may form and block the artery or travel to other parts of the body. Full or partial blockages can cause heart attack, stroke, vascular dementia, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, or limb loss. Atherosclerosis can cause disability and death.

Atherosclerosis can affect almost any artery in the body, including ones in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. Atherosclerosis has a different name depending on the arteries that are affected:

• Carotid artery disease is plaque buildup in the neck arteries. It reduces blood flow to the brain.
• 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.
• Renal artery stenosis is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys.
• Vertebral artery 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. Read more about disorders affecting blood supply to the back of the brain.
• Mesenteric artery  ischemia ischemia (is-KE-me-ah):
  Lack of blood supply to a part of the body. Ischemia may cause tissue damage because of the lack of oxygen and nutrients is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the intestines.

Plaque often starts to form during childhood and gets worse with age. Risk factors include high blood cholesterol, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and your  genes gene (jeen):
The unit that passes heredity from parents to children. Genes are pieces of DNA and contain information for making a specific protein. .

The good news is that most people can prevent or delay atherosclerosis from developing by following steps for heart-healthy living. The best way to ensure heart health is to prevent risk factors in the first place. Sometimes atherosclerosis can be reversed through healthy lifestyle changes and medicines.