Atherosclerosis: it's causes

 Atherosclerosis

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis) is a disease in which plaque (plak) builds up inside your arteries. 

Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.

Causes of atherosclerosis:

The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn't known. However, studies show that atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that may start in childhood. It develops faster as we age. Atherosclerosis may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. 

These factors include:

Smoking

High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood

High blood pressure

High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes

Plaque may begin to build up where the arteries are damaged. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows the arteries. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open).

Diabetes – Patients with poorly – controlled diabetes, who frequently have excess blood glucose levels, are much more likely to develop atherosclerosis.

Genetics – People with a parent or sibling who has/had atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease have a much higher risk of developing atherosclerosis than others.

Air pollution – Exposure to diesel exhaust particles in air pollution to a higher risk of bad cholesterol build-up in the arteries.