Atherosclerosis
Healthrisks of atherosclerosis
If left to get worse, atherosclerosis can potentially lead to a number of serious conditions known ascardiovascular disease (CVD). There won't usually be any symptoms until CVD develops.
Types of CVD include:
- coronary heart disease the main arteries that supply your heart (the coronary arteries) become cloggedwith plaques
- anginashort periods of tight, dull or heavychest pain caused by coronary heart disease, which may precede a heart attack
- heart attackswhere the blood supply to your heart is blocked, causing sudden crushing or indigestion-like chest pain that can radiate to nearby areas, as well as shortness of breath and dizziness
- strokeswhere the blood supply to your brain is interrupted, causing the face to droopto one side, weakness on one side of the body, and slurred speech
- transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs)where there are temporary symptoms of a stroke
- peripheral arterial disease where the blood supply to your legs is blocked, causing leg pain when walking
Click on the links above for more information about these conditions, including what the main symptoms and risks are.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about atherosclerosis, a potentially serious condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. Read about the problems this can cause and who's at risk.
Healthrisks of atherosclerosis
If left to get worse, atherosclerosis can potentially lead to a number of serious conditions known ascardiovascular disease (CVD). There won't usually be any symptoms until CVD develops.Types of CVD i
Who'sat risk of atherosclerosis?
Exactlywhy and howarteries become clogged is unclear.It can happen to anyone, althoughthe following things can increase your risk: increasing age smoking an unhealthy, high-fat diet lack ofexercise
Treatmentsfor atherosclerosis
There aren't currently any treatments that can reverse atherosclerosis, but the healthylifestyle changes suggested above mayhelp stop it getting worse.Sometimes additional treatment to reduce the risk
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