Atherosclerosis, Stroke and Heart Attack
Atherosclerosis,
Stroke and Heart Attack
I. Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the hardening and
narrowing of the arteries. It is caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the
inside of artery walls. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood
from the heart to other parts of the body. Plaque is made up of fat,
cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. As it grows, the
buildup of plaque narrows the inside of the artery and, in time, may restrict
blood flow. There are two types of plaque:
Hard
and stable
Soft
and unstable
Hard plaque causes artery walls to
thicken and harden. Soft plaque is more likely to break apart from the walls
and enter the bloodstream. This can cause a blood clot to partially or totally
block the flow of blood in the artery. When this happens, the organ supplied by
the blocked artery starves for blood and oxygen. The organ's cells may either
die or suffer sev...