Overview of the possible risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Jameson JL, et al. Ischemic heart disease. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Understanding blood pressure readings. American Heart Association. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Department of Health and Human Services.
Your guide to lowering your cholesterol with therapeutic lifestyle changes TLC. Rethinking drinking: Alcohol and your health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Accessed April 2, Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture.
Omega-3 supplements: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Mankad R expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. April 28, Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.
Natural medicines in the clinical management of hypertension. Natural Medicines. Natural medicines in the clinical management of hyperlipidemia. Riggin EA. Stable plaque is less likely to rupture. These plaques have a thick fibrous cap and are made up of substances that are stable and not likely to rupture. Unstable plaque is more likely to rupture.
These plaques have a thin fibrous cap and are made up of substances like fats that can expand. Inflammation within the plaque can make the fibrous cap unstable and more likely to tear apart. Blocked artery. A blockage in the artery can happen if the plaque tears or ruptures.
This rupture exposes the cholesterol and tissue that was under the fibrous cap. Blood clots form in response to this rupture.
The blood clot blocks the blood flow in the artery. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. This theory suggests that atherosclerosis develops as a result of repetitive injury to the inner lining of the artery.
Injury may stimulate cells to grow and divide as part of the inflammatory process. This normal, healing response to chronic injury may actually result in the growth of atherosclerotic plaque. Smoking plays a large role in the development of atherosclerosis. The carbon monoxide and nicotine contained in tobacco smoke affect blood flow through your arteries by:. Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The wall of the aorta and all blood vessels is a dynamic tissue made up of living cells that need nutrients and oxygen.
Many of these nutrients seep from the inside of the blood vessel through the walls to nourish the rest of the blood vessel. When the inner lining of the vessel is covered with an atherosclerotic plaque, nutrients can no longer seep through sufficiently.
The cells receive no oxygen, and some of them die. 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. Genest J, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Libby P. The vascular biology of atherosclerosis. Marks AR. Cardiac and circulatory function.
Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Final recommendation statement: statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults: preventive medication. Updated November 13, Accessed January 28, Updated by: Michael A.
Editorial team. Atherosclerosis is a common disorder. Watch this video about: Atherosclerosis. Exams and Tests. Screening should begin between ages 20 to 35 for men and ages 20 to 45 for women. Repeat testing is not needed for five years for most adults with normal cholesterol levels. Repeat testing may be needed if lifestyle changes occur, such as large increase in weight or a change in diet. More frequent testing is needed for adults with a history of high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney problems, heart disease, stroke, and other conditions A number of imaging tests may be used to see how well blood moves through your arteries.
About three of every four heart attacks occur when plaques rupture. Larger plaques can block blood flow. But they are typically covered by thick, fibrous caps that can resist breaking apart.
These are often treated by inserting a wire mesh tube stent near the blockage to widen the artery. Doctors target smaller, unstable plaque. How do you get the cholesterol out of the plaque? By lowering levels of cholesterol in the blood, where it travels inside particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein LDL deposits cholesterol into blood vessel walls.
The drugs used most often to reduce LDL cholesterol levels are statins —such as atorvastatin Lipitor and rosuvastatin Crestor. Statins block the liver enzyme that promotes cholesterol production. Another medication called ezetimibe Zetia may be added to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract. Harvard Health Letter. Very intensive lifestyle changes have also been shown to shrink plaque. Cannon recommends that you:. Cholesterol is often vilified as the bad guy, but we need this waxy, fatty substance to make vitamin D, hormones, bile that aids digestion, and the coverings of our cells.
When cells need more cholesterol, the liver sends it via the bloodstream in packages made of cholesterol on the inside and protein on the outside. These cholesterol-laden particles are known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Too much LDL in the blood can cause cholesterol to lodge in the artery walls and form plaques.
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