If you fall into this category try making some lifestyle changes. It is never too late to adopt heart-healthy habits like routine exercise, healthy eating, and quitting smoking, but the sooner, the better. Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health.
World Health Organization. Cardiovascular disease. Plutzky J. The vascular biology of atherosclerosis. The American Journal of Medicine. Potru, R. Updated January 25, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. In addition, the smooth lining of the plaque may rupture, spilling cholesterol and other substances into your bloodstream.
This may cause a blood clot, which can block the blood flow to a specific part of your body, such as occurs when blocked blood flow to your heart causes a heart attack. A blood clot can also travel to other parts of your body, blocking flow to another organ. Hardening of the arteries occurs over time. Besides aging, factors that may increase your risk of atherosclerosis include:.
Atherosclerosis can also cause aneurysms, a serious complication that can occur anywhere in your body. An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of your artery. Most people with aneurysms have no symptoms. Pain and throbbing in the area of an aneurysm may occur and is a medical emergency. If an aneurysm bursts, you may face life-threatening internal bleeding.
Although this is usually a sudden, catastrophic event, a slow leak is possible. If a blood clot within an aneurysm dislodges, it may block an artery at some distant point. The same healthy lifestyle changes recommended to treat atherosclerosis also help prevent it. These include:. Just remember to make changes one step at a time, and keep in mind what lifestyle changes are manageable for you in the long run.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are sometimes used to mean the same thing, but there's a difference between the two terms. As the atherosclerosis progresses and cells continue to die, the walls become weaker and weaker. At some point, a critical relationship is reached between the pressure experienced in the center of the blood vessel, the wall tension, and the strength of the wall itself.
When this point is reached, the wall begins to dilate grow larger in the area of the plaque. As the diameter of the vessel grows, the wall tension increases, leading to even more dilation. The end result is an aneurysm. Author: Healthwise Staff.
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Top of the page. Topic Overview What is atherosclerosis? What problems does atherosclerosis cause? How is atherosclerosis treated? How can you slow down atherosclerosis? How does atherosclerosis happen? Why does atherosclerosis happen? This injury could be caused by any number of things, including: Physical stress on the artery lining, such as stress caused by high blood pressure.
A response to an infection within the artery wall. Oxidative damage to the artery lining. Coronary artery stent. A tiny mesh coil is expanded inside the blocked artery to open the blocked area and is left in place to keep the artery open. Most commonly referred to as bypass surgery, this surgery is often done in people who have angina chest pain due to coronary artery disease where plaque has built up in the arteries.
During the surgery, a bypass is created by grafting a piece of a healthy vein from elsewhere in the body and attaching it above and below the blocked area of a coronary artery. This lets blood flow around the blockage. Veins are usually taken from the leg or from the chest wall. Sometimes more than one artery needs to be bypassed during the same surgery. Plaque buildup inside the arteries reduces the blood flow. A heart attack may occur if the blood supply is reduced to the heart.
A damaged heart muscle may not pump as well and can lead to heart failure. A stroke may occur if the blood supply is cut off to the brain. Severe pain and tissue death may occur if the blood supply is reduced to the arms and legs. You can prevent or delay atherosclerosis by reducing risk factors. This includes adopting a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet, losing weight, being physically active, and not smoking can help reduce your risk of atherosclerosis. A healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, skinless chicken, seafood, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
A healthy diet also limits sodium, refined sugars and grains, and solid fats. If you are at risk for atherosclerosis because of family history, or high cholesterol, it is important that you take medicines as directed by your healthcare provider.
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