Heart: Subclinical atherosclerosis in women after pre-eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis Atherosclerosis is a hardening of your arteries from plaque building up gradually inside them. Plaque consists of fat, cholesterol and other substances. This plaque buildup limits blood flow.

Understanding the Context

You may not have symptoms of atherosclerosis until you have complications like a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This buildup is called plaque. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow.

Key Insights

The plaque also can burst, leading to a blood clot. What Is Atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is when plaque -- a sticky substance made of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other materials β€” builds up inside the walls of your arteries. Plaque (fatty deposits) build up in your arteries is called atherosclerosis. As plaque builds up, the wall of the blood vessel thickens.

Final Thoughts

This narrows the channel within the artery, reducing blood flow. Atherosclerosis[a] is a pattern of the disease arteriosclerosis, [8] characterized by development of abnormalities called lesions in walls of arteries. This is a chronic inflammatory disease involving many different cell types and is driven by elevated blood levels of cholesterol. [9] . Atherosclerosis is a common condition that leads to heart disease and other health problems. It’s caused by the buildup of sticky cholesterol plaque in the arteries, but it’s preventable and treatable.

Atherosclerosis is a type of thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. It can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other circulatory conditions.