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Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens (forms calcium deposits), and may eventually block the arteries.

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis. The two terms are often used to mean the same thing.

Arteriosclerosis; Hardening of the arteries; Plaque buildup - arteries

Atherosclerosis is a common disorder of the arteries. It occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form hard structures called plaques.

Watch this video about: Atherosclerosis

Eventually, the plaques can make the artery narrow and less flexible, making it harder for blood to flow. If the coronary arteries become narrow, blood flow to the heart can slow down or stop. This can cause chest pain (stable angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, and other symptoms.

Pieces of plaque can break off and move through the bloodstream (embolization). This is a common cause of heart attack and stroke. Blood clots can also form around a tear (fissure) in the plaque. Clots block blood flow. If the clot moves into an artery in the heart, lungs, or brain, it can cause a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:

• Diabetes
• Heavy alcohol use
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol levels
• High-fat diet
• Increasing age
• Obesity
• Personal or family history of heart disease
• Smoking

Atherosclerosis can affect many different organ systems, including the heart, lungs, brain, intestines, kidneys, and limbs (extremities).

Symptoms usually do not occur until blood flow becomes restricted or blocked.

See the specific condition for more details on symptoms:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Coronary artery disease
• Kidney disease
• Mesenteric artery ischemia
• Peripheral artery disease
• Renal artery stenosis
• Hypertension
• Stroke (cerebrovascular disease)
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm

A health care provider will perform a physical exam and listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. Atherosclerosis can create a whooshing or blowing sound ("bruit") over an artery.

Tests that may be used to diagnose atherosclerosis or its complications include:

• Ankle/brachial index (ABI)
• Aortic arteriography
• Arteriography
• Cardiac stress testing
• Carotid duplex
• CT scan
• Doppler study
• Extremity arteriography
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
• Magnetic resonance arteriography (MRA)
• Mesenteric arteriography
• Pulmonary angiography
• Renal arteriography

Everyone starts to develop some amount of atherosclerosis as they grow older. In some people, the condition can cause complications such as a heart attack or stroke.

• Coronary heart disease
• Damage to organs (such as the kidneys, brain, liver, and intestines)
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Too little blood to the legs and feet
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are at risk for atherosclerosis, especially if you have symptoms.

Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise plan, especially if you have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease or you have ever had a heart attack.

Goldstein LB. Prevention and management of stroke. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 58.

Fuster V. Atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 69.

Mosca L, Banka CL, Benjamin EJ, et al. Evidence-Based Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: 2007 Update. Circulation. 2007; 115: 1481-1501.