What Is Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease?
2. Causes
Atherosclerosis is a disease that progresses slowly over time. It is not known exactly why it starts, but it is thought that it might begin with damage to the artery walls. There are various possible causes of this damage, including high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, inflammation from other diseases, and a high blood pressure.
Blood cells and other materials can then begin to accumulate at the sight of the damage. Fatty deposits can also begin to accumulate, forming what is known as plaque on the walls. This build up of materials causes the artery cells to become thicker and harder, while also reducing the space inside the artery.
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