Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty material (such as cholesterol), fibrous material and calcium). The build-up forms an atheroma (degeneration of the walls of the arteries) under the endothelium (cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels).
As the atheroma continues to build up it causes a number of things to happen:
- the artery loses its elasticity
- the blockage restricts blood flow due to the decreased diameter of the lumen
- the restricted blood flow increases blood pressure
Atherosclerosis can lead to various cardiovascular diseases such as Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles and is usually caused by coronary heart disease., A condition where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by the build up of fatty material in one or more of the coronary arteries. Heart muscle is damaged in the process., Damage to the brain caused by bleeding or blood clots in the brain's blood vessels., and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).