According to NHS, atherosclerosis is a potentially serious condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances called plaques, or atheroma.
These plaques cause the arteries to harden and narrow, restricting the blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs, and increasing the risk of blood clots that could potentially block the flow of blood to the heart or brain.
Atherosclerosis does not tend to have any symptoms at first and many people may be unaware they have it, but it can eventually cause life-threatening problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it gets worse
But the condition is largely preventable with a healthy lifestyle, and treatment can help reduce the risk of serious problems happening.
Health risks of atherosclerosis
If left to get worse, atherosclerosis can potentially lead to a number of serious conditions known as cardiovascular disease (CVD). There will not usually be any symptoms until CVD develops.
Types of CVD include:
1. coronary heart disease: the main arteries that supply your heart (the coronary arteries) become clogged with plaques
2. angina: short periods of tight, dull or heavy chest pain caused by coronary heart disease, which may precede a heart attack
3. heart attacks: where the blood supply to your heart is blocked, causing sudden crushing or indigestion-like chest pain that can radiate to nearby areas, as well as shortness of breath and dizziness
4. strokes: where the blood supply to your brain is interrupted, causing the face to droop to 1 side, weakness on 1 side of the body, and slurred speech
5. transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs): where there are temporary symptoms of a stroke
6. peripheral arterial disease: where the blood supply to your legs is blocked, causing leg pain when walking.
Who’s at risk of atherosclerosis
Exactly why and how arteries become clogged is unclear.
It can happen to anyone, although the following things can increase your risk:
1. increasing age
2. smoking
3. an unhealthy, high-fat diet
4. lack of exercise
5. being overweight or obese
6. regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
7. other conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
8. a family history of atherosclerosis and CVD
9. being of south Asian, African or African-Caribbean descent.
You cannot do anything about some of these factors, but by tackling things like an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise you can help reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and CVD.
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