General Information About Atherosclerosis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the formation of calcium, fat, and cholesterol deposits (plaques) on the inner wall of the arteries over time, blocking blood flow and causing the artery to harden.
High LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood, smoking toxins, or high blood pressure damages the inner lining (endothelium) of the artery. As the body tries to repair this damage, it creates a fatty mass in that area, and this mass calcifies over time to become a plaque.
It can affect all arteries in the body. It leads to coronary artery disease in the heart vessels, strokes in the brain vessels, and peripheral artery disease in the leg vessels.
It gives no symptoms until the vessel is completely blocked or critically narrowed. As the narrowing progresses, chest pain (angina), cramps in the legs that start with walking, and shortness of breath are observed.
Blood tests (lipid profile), Stress test, Echocardiography, Carotid (neck) ultrasound, and, for a definitive diagnosis, Coronary Angiography methods are used.
Quitting smoking, healthy eating, and cholesterol medications stop the progression of the disease. For critical narrowings, a balloon/stent procedure with angiography or coronary bypass surgery is applied.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
