Patient education: Atherosclerosis (The Basics)

What is atherosclerosis? — 

This is a condition in which fatty deposits called "plaques" build up inside the arteries in the body. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart out to the body. Atherosclerosis is the reason most people have a heart attack or a stroke.

Atherosclerosis can affect arteries all over the body. There are different names for it depending on which arteries it affects:

●Carotid artery disease – This affects the carotid arteries, which bring blood to the brain (figure 1). It can lead to stroke.

●Coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease – This affects the coronary arteries, which bring blood to the heart muscle. It can cause chest pain and lead to heart attack (figure 2).

●Renal artery stenosis – This affects the renal arteries, which bring blood to the kidneys. It can cause high blood pressure or lead to kidney disease.

●Peripheral artery disease – This affects the arteries that bring blood to the arms and legs (figure 3). People sometimes have pain, tingling, or numbness in their legs when they walk.

How does atherosclerosis cause heart attack, stroke, and other problems? — 

Atherosclerosis-related plaques can cause problems in 2 ways:

●Plaques can get too big and reduce blood flow to certain body parts (figure 4). This can cause symptoms (such as pain) in the body part that is not getting enough blood.

●Plaques can break open, or rupture. Then, blood clots form inside the artery and block the blood supply to tissues past the clot. This is what happens during a stroke or a heart attack (figure 2).

Who is at risk for atherosclerosis? — 

A person has a higher chance of getting it if they:

●Have high cholesterol or triglycerides (triglycerides are a type of fat found in blood)

●Have high blood pressure

●Have diabetes

●Smoke

●Have an unhealthy diet

●Have excess body weight or do very little physical activity

●Have a mother or father who got atherosclerosis before the age of 50 years

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Other than a physical exam, doctors do not typically order tests to check for atherosclerosis. Instead, they order tests if they think that a person might have a specific form of atherosclerosis, such as coronary heart disease or peripheral artery disease. The tests for each of these conditions are very different.

A test called a "lipid profile" is often done in people who might have atherosclerosis. This is a blood test that measures the amounts of different forms of fat and cholesterol in the blood. The level of LDL-cholesterol, also called "bad" cholesterol, is the most important.

How can I help prevent the problems caused by atherosclerosis? — 

To reduce your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or related problem, you should:

●Take the medicines your doctor prescribes to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and to prevent clots.

●Try to lose weight (if you have excess body fat).

●Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Don't eat a lot of meats, sweets, or refined grains.

●Do something active for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.

●Quit smoking (if you smoke). Your doctor or nurse can help.

●Limit alcohol. This means:

•For males under age 65 years – No more than 2 drinks a day.

•For females of any age or males age 65 years or older – No more than 1 drink a day.

More on this topic

Patient education: Carotid artery disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Coronary artery disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Renovascular hypertension (The Basics)
Patient education: Peripheral artery disease and claudication (The Basics)
Patient education: High cholesterol (The Basics)
Patient education: Cholesterol tests (The Basics)
Patient education: High blood pressure in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Stroke (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart attack (The Basics)
Patient education: Lowering your risk of heart disease (The Basics)

Patient education: Peripheral artery disease and claudication (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: High blood pressure in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Ischemic stroke treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Heart attack (Beyond the Basics)