Also known as “hardening of the arteries,” atherosclerosis is a disease in which the arteries are hardened and narrowed as a result of plaque that has built up along the inside of the artery walls. Atherosclerosis can occur in any artery in the body.

When it occurs in the coronary arteries, which feed the heart with oxygen-rich blood, it is known as coronary artery disease. By restricting the flow of blood to the heart, atherosclerosis increases the risk of serious heart conditions such as heart attack or cardiac arrest (the total stopping of the heart).

Similarly, when atherosclerosis restricts blood flow to the brain (e.g., carotid artery disease, cerebrovascular disease) the risk of stroke increases. Atherosclerosis also contributes to blood vessel diseases in other areas of the body, such as the legs (peripheral vascular disease) or the kidneys.

Atherosclerosis may be treated with medications that thin the blood or expand the blood vessel to allow more oxygen-rich blood to travel around the body. More severe cases may be treated using surgery designed to clear blockages from the blood vessels.  

There are a number of things people can do to prevent atherosclerosis, such as reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in their diet, maintaining normal weights, quitting smoking and getting regular exercise. For those who have already been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, treatments include various medications and catheter-based procedures. Surgery is also an option in patients with severe arterial narrowing.