They’ll evaluate your risk for atherosclerosis and explain what you can do to lower it. That’s why visiting a healthcare provider for yearly checkups is important. Research shows some treatments can reduce the size of plaque in your arteries (plaque regression) or change its chemical makeup, so it’s less likely to rupture. You can lower your risk for atherosclerosis, or slow its progression, by making lifestyle changes and managing underlying conditions. For example, blockages in a coronary artery deprive your heart of oxygen-rich blood, leading to a heart attack.īut there’s a reason for hope. The effects on your body depend on where the blood clot forms. It blocks blood flow to certain organs or tissue the artery normally feeds. But a blood clot is like a barricade in the middle of the road. Plus, the constant force of blood flow can lead to plaque erosion or rupture, causing a blood clot to form.Ī narrowed artery is like a highway reduced to one lane.
This means less blood can reach your organs and tissues. But eventually, as the plaque grows, the opening (lumen) of your artery narrows, leaving less room for blood to flow. You may not notice symptoms for a long time. This “hardening of the arteries” is usually a silent process in the early stages. Plaque ( atheroma) is a sticky substance made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances.Īs plaque builds up, your artery wall grows thicker and harder. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to organs and tissues throughout your body. Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque in the walls of your arteries.
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