Atherosclerosis
AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis. It comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or paste) and sclerosis (hardness). It`s the term for the process of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) building up in the inner lining of an artery. The buildup that results is called plaque. Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the thickening and hardening of arteries. Some hardening of arteries normally occurs when people grow older. Plaque may partially or totally block the blood`s flow through an artery. Two things that can happen where plaque occurs are: - Bleeding (hemorrhage) into the plaque
- Formation of a blood clot (thrombus) on the plaque`s surface
If either of these occurs and blocks the entire artery, a heart attack or stroke may result. Atherosclerosis affects large and medium-sized arteries. The type of artery and where the plaque develops varies with each person. Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may start in childhood. In some people this disease progresses rapidly in their third decade. In others it doesn`t become threatening until they`re in their 50s or 60s.
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