Atherosclerosis

Types of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis can affect almost any medium or large artery in your body from head to toe. Partial or complete blockages can restrict blood flow, most commonly to your heart, brain, kidneys, arms, legs or pelvis.

Atherosclerosis has different names based on the location of the arteries affected. Types include:

• Carotid artery disease: Plaque buildup in your neck arteries reduces blood flow to your brain, which can lead to a stroke.
• Coronary artery disease: The arteries supplying your heart become narrowed or blocked.
• Mesenteric artery ischemia: One of the three main arteries supplying your intestines is narrowed or blocked.
• Peripheral artery disease: This is a type of peripheral vascular disease that causes narrowing of the arteries carrying blood to your legs, arms and pelvis.
• Renal artery stenosis: This type of atherosclerosis impacts the blood supply to your kidneys.
• Vertebral artery disease: This affects arteries that carry blood to the back of your brain.

Atherosclerosis risk factors

Many factors can lead to plaque buildup, including your genes, lifestyle and history of certain health conditions. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing atherosclerosis. However, many of the risk factors for atherosclerosis can be prevented.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:

• Age: Atherosclerosis progresses with age.
• Alcohol: Heavy drinking can increase your risk for atherosclerosis.
• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage your arteries, making them prone to plaque buildup.
• Diet: A diet high in saturated fat, excess sugars and processed or ultra processed foods can lead to accelerated atherosclerosis.
• Family history: Development and progression of atherosclerosis may be related to genetics. An inherited cholesterol disorder known as familial hypercholesterolemia also increases your risk.
• High blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage your arteries and is a leading preventable risk factor for atherosclerosis in the United States.
• Inflammatory diseases: Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis and psoriasis cause high levels of inflammation, which can damage arteries.
• Excess weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease, as well as diabetes and other health conditions.
• Menopause: Women are at an increased risk after menopause due to lower levels of the hormone estrogen, which has a protective effect.
• Pregnancy complications: Gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) are both linked to atherosclerosis.
• Race or ethnicity: People who are Black and South Asian are at a higher risk than White individuals.
• Sedentary lifestyle: A lack of physical activity may lead to cardiometabolic complications, including high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and being obese or overweight
• Smoking: Smoking and second-hand smoke damage your blood vessels.
• Unhealthy cholesterol levels: High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C, or “bad”) cholesterol can promote plaque formation.

Complications

Atherosclerosis can lead to artery blockages that prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching an organ or limb, causing severe, potentially life-threatening complications. These complications can appear suddenly and without warning.

Complications include:

• Blood clots: A blood clot can form if plaque bursts, blocking an artery.
• Heart attack: A full or partial blockage of a coronary artery can cause a heart attack, where your heart tissue does not get enough oxygen.
• Limb loss: Problems with blood flow to your extremities can lead to the need to amputate part of an arm or leg.
• Ischemic stroke: An ischemic stroke is a medical emergency, usually caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in your brain.
• Vascular dementia: Reduced blood flow to your brain can result in loss of mental function.

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?

Diagnosing atherosclerosis early is important for preventing serious complications like heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will use a combination of tools to assess your risk, including a physical exam, blood work and heart imaging. If you don’t have symptoms, they may use a risk calculator to estimate your chances of developing heart disease.

Frequently asked questions