Atherosclerosis how does it develop

Learn what to do. Making lifestyle changes lessens your chances of having another heart attack, and helps you feel better overall. Here are a few to try. Temporal arteritis occurs when the temporal arteries, which supply blood to the head and brain, become inflamed or damaged. Everyday factors can make veins more noticeable.

But there are a few causes that are an emergency. Green veins are superficial veins located near the surface of skin. Learn more. Mesenteric artery ischemia is a condition that restricts blood flow to your intestines.

Find out what causes it and how to treat it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. When Does Atherosclerosis Begin? Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. What causes it? What are the risks? How do you get tested? Can it be treated? A blockage in the artery can happen if the plaque tears or ruptures.

This rupture exposes the cholesterol and tissue that was under the fibrous cap. Blood clots form in response to this rupture. The blood clot blocks the blood flow in the artery. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. This theory suggests that atherosclerosis develops as a result of repetitive injury to the inner lining of the artery. Injury may stimulate cells to grow and divide as part of the inflammatory process. This normal, healing response to chronic injury may actually result in the growth of atherosclerotic plaque.

Smoking plays a large role in the development of atherosclerosis. The carbon monoxide and nicotine contained in tobacco smoke affect blood flow through your arteries by:. Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The wall of the aorta and all blood vessels is a dynamic tissue made up of living cells that need nutrients and oxygen. Many of these nutrients seep from the inside of the blood vessel through the walls to nourish the rest of the blood vessel.

When the inner lining of the vessel is covered with an atherosclerotic plaque, nutrients can no longer seep through sufficiently. The cells receive no oxygen, and some of them die.

As the atherosclerosis progresses and cells continue to die, the walls become weaker and weaker. At some point, a critical relationship is reached between the pressure experienced in the center of the blood vessel, the wall tension, and the strength of the wall itself. When this point is reached, the wall begins to dilate grow larger in the area of the plaque. As the diameter of the vessel grows, the wall tension increases, leading to even more dilation. The end result is an aneurysm.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

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Top of the page. Topic Overview What is atherosclerosis? What problems does atherosclerosis cause? This condition occurs when fatty substances called plaque buildup inside the artery walls. Cholesterol is the main fatty substance in plaque.

This fatty buildup can cause partial or complete blockage of blood flow through an artery. Atherosclerosis mainly affects medium-sized arteries, such as the coronary heart , carotid neck , cerebral brain and renal kidney arteries. It can also be found in the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body. The braches of the aorta leading to the arms and legs can become lined with plaque as well.

Atherosclerosis tends to build up at points where the artery branches off. Most people do not experience any symptoms of atherosclerosis until there is a serious lack of blood flow to a part of the body. When symptoms do occur, they may be constant or they may come and go. Symptoms include:. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, take a health history and do an exam.

You may have one or more of the following tests:. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce blood clotting.