Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis is the thickening and scarring of the arteries by the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque (a substance composed of lipids and cholesterol) in the lumen. This also stiffens and weakens the artery, which can increase its risk for sudden rupture. When the lumen of an artery is narrowed by atherosclerosis, this decreases the amount of oxygenated blood reaching its designated tissue. For example, when the coronary arteries are affected by atherosclerosis, less oxygenated blood per heartbeat is reaching the heart tissue in comparison to a normal coronary artery. This can lead to conditions such as angina (chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart), arrhythmia, or a heart attack (when a narrowed coronary artery is obstructed further by a dislodged plaque or a a blood clot, leading to sudden stop of arterial blood flow to the heart tissue).

With atherosclerosis at the arteries leading to the brain, this can cause strokes or vascular-related dementia. If atherosclerosis significantly affects the peripheral arteries, this can lead to peripheral vascular disease.

Atherosclerosis is increased by diet (frequently a diet high in saturated fat and/or sugar), tobacco product use, inherited blood lipid disorders, and diabetes mellitus.