What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the the process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and other substances build up in the inner lining of the artery. This buildup is referred to as "plaque." Plaques can eventually grow big enough to significantly reduce the blood flow through an artery, but the majority of damage comes from the artery becoming fragile and rupturing. When plaques rupture they can cause the formation of blood clots that block blood flow and/or break off and travel to other parts of the body. If this happens and an a blood vessel that feeds the heart is blocked, a heart attack occurs. If it happens and a blood vessel that feeds the brain is blocked, a stroke occurs. If the clot blocks blood supply to the arms and/or legs, it can make walking difficult, and eventually turn into gangrene.

 What causes atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis typically starts in childhood and progresses as people age. The speed of progression varies from person to person, some people even experience rapid progression in their thirties. It is thought that it begins with damage to the innermost layer of the artery. The artery wall can be damaged from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Tobacco significantly worsens atherosclerosis and speeds up its growth in the coronary arteries, aorta, and arteries in the legs.