A condition characterized by patchy atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques which develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries and can lead to arterial stenosis with reduced or blocked blood flow.

A thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES that occurs with formation of ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES within the ARTERIAL INTIMA.

Age, lifestyle, diet, and gene related degeneration of arteries due to deposition of lipoid plaques (atheromas) on inner arterial walls; main cause of coronary artery disease, a leading cause of death.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of cholesterol, fat, blood cells, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and causes your arteries to narrow. That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your body. Some people may confuse atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, but they are not the same thing: Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries, which means that the arteries thicken and become less flexible. It can have several different causes.; Atherosclerosis, which develops from plaque buildup, is a common type of arteriosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can affect most of the arteries in the body. It has different names, based on which arteries are affected: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart.; Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. It most often affects the arteries of your legs, but it can also affect the arteries of your arms or pelvis.; Carotid artery disease is plaque buildup in the neck arteries. It reduces blood flow to the brain.; Renal artery stenosis is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys.; Vertebral artery disease is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the back of your brain.; Mesenteric artery ischemia is plaque buildup in the arteries that supply your intestines with blood. Plaque often starts to build up during childhood and gets worse with age. The exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe that this buildup happens when there is damage to the arteries. This damage may be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, medical conditions, and your genes. You may be more likely to develop atherosclerosis if you: Have certain medical conditions, including: High blood pressure; High blood cholesterol; Diabetes; Metabolic syndrome; Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.; Have a family history of high blood cholesterol; Eat a lot of foods high in saturated fats; Smoke or chew tobacco; Are older - the risk increases after age 45 men and age 55 in women. In the early stages, atherosclerosis often does not cause any symptoms. You may first notice some symptoms at times when your body needs more oxygen. For example, this could be when you are having physical or emotional stress. Your symptoms will depend on which arteries are affected and how much blood flow is blocked: With coronary artery disease, the symptoms may include angina (a type of chest pain), palpitations (racing or pounding heart), and shortness of breath.; With carotid artery disease, you may have a bruit. This is a whooshing sound that your health care provider hears when using a stethoscope. You could also have a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke.; With peripheral artery disease, you may have pain, aching, heaviness, or cramping in the legs when walking or climbing stairs.; With vertebral artery disease, you may have problems with thinking and memory, weakness or numbness on one side of the body or face, and vision trouble. You could also have a transient ischemic attack.; With mesenteric artery ischemia, the symptoms can include severe pain after meals, weight loss, and diarrhea....

Build-up of fatty material and calcium deposition in the arterial wall resulting in partial or complete occlusion of the arterial lumen.

The buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in the walls of arteries, causing narrowing and reduced blood flow; the disease responsible for most heart attacks and many strokes.

(atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) Cardiovascular disease resulting from atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by patchy intimal plaques (atheromas) that encroach on the lumen of medium-sized and large arteries; the plaques contain lipids, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells, and connective tissue. Risk factors include dyslipidemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, family history, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and...

Atherosclerosis, chronic disease caused by the deposition of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the innermost layer of endothelium of the large and medium-sized arteries. Atherosclerosis is the most common arterial abnormality characterized as arteriosclerosis, which is defined by...