Atherosclerosis: MedlinePlus

Atherosclerosis: MedlinePlus

A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your body.

Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including

• Coronary artery disease. These arteries supply blood to your heart. When they are blocked, you can suffer angina or a heart attack.
• Carotid artery disease. These arteries supply blood to your brain. When they are blocked you can suffer a stroke.
• Peripheral arterial disease. These arteries are in your arms, legs and pelvis. When they are blocked, you can suffer from numbness, pain and sometimes infections.

Atherosclerosis usually doesn't cause symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. Many people don't know they have it until they have a medical emergency.

A physical exam, imaging, and other diagnostic tests can tell if you have it. Medicines can slow the progress of plaque buildup. Your doctor may also recommend procedures such as angioplasty to open the arteries, or surgery on thecoronary or carotid arteries. Lifestyle changes can also help. These include following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Angioplasty and stent placement - peripheral arteries
• Arterial insufficiency
• Arteriogram
• Atheroembolic renal disease
• Atherosclerosis
• Doppler ultrasound exam of an arm or leg
• Extremity angiography
• Hardening of the arteries
• Lipoprotein-a
• Magnetic resonance angiography

Related Topics

• Angioplasty
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Blood, Heart and Circulation

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Atherosclerosis is theNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine  

• Coronary Artery Disease
• Coronary Artery Disease: Diagnosis & Treatment
• Signs and Symptoms of Artery Disease
• Understanding Arteries

How Can Atherosclerosis Be Prevented or Delayed?

08/01/2014 09:47 AM EDT

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related MedlinePlus Page: Atherosclerosis

Living with Atherosclerosis

08/01/2014 09:47 AM EDT

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related MedlinePlus Page: Atherosclerosis

Who Is at Risk for Atherosclerosis?

08/01/2014 09:47 AM EDT

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related MedlinePlus Page: Atherosclerosis

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis?

08/01/2014 09:47 AM EDT

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related MedlinePlus Page: Atherosclerosis

What Causes Atherosclerosis?

08/01/2014 09:47 AM EDT

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related MedlinePlus Page: Atherosclerosis

• Start Here

  • Atherosclerosis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Overviews

  • Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Atherosclerosis(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Atherosclerosis(American Heart Association)

• Latest News

  • No TV or Obesity, But Ancient People Still Had Heart Disease(07/31/2014, HealthDay)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Cardiac CT(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Catheter Angiography(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Coronary Calcium Scan(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • How Is Atherosclerosis Diagnosed?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • MR Angiography (MRA)(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  •  What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

• Treatment

  • Carotid Endarterectomy(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • How Is Atherosclerosis Treated?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • MedlinePlus: Angioplasty(National Library of Medicine)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Prevention/Screening

  •  How Can Atherosclerosis Be Prevented or Delayed?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  •  Who Is at Risk for Atherosclerosis?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Return to top

• Alternative Therapy

  • Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Return to top

• Nutrition

  • Heart-Healthy Diet: Eight Steps to Prevent Heart Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Return to top

• Disease Management

  •  Living with Atherosclerosis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Return to top

• Specific Conditions

  • Cerebral Arteriosclerosis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) -Short Summary
  • Return to top

• Related Issues

  • Atherosclerosis and Stroke(American Stroke Association)
  • Dental Health and Heart Health(American Heart Association)
  • HIV and Atherosclerosis(American Heart Association)
  •  What Causes Atherosclerosis?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Return to top

• Videos

  • Atherosclerosis - Encyclopedia
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Arteriosclerosis(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Atherosclerosis(National Institutes of Health)
  • Return to top

• Genetics

  • Genetics Home Reference: Cholesteryl ester storage disease(National Library of Medicine)
  • Genetics Home Reference: Tangier disease(National Library of Medicine)
  • Return to top

• Research

  • NIH Researchers Find Resveratrol Helps Protect against Cardiovascular Disease in Animal Study(National Institute on Aging)
  • Return to top

• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Effects of extended-release niacin with laropiprant in high-risk patients.
  • Article: Mediterranean diet now linked to reduced risk of PAD.
  • Article: Current status of lower-extremity revascularization.
  • Atherosclerosis -- see more articles
  • Return to top

• Organizations

  • American Heart Association
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • Return to top

• Children

  • Children and Heart Disease (Atherosclerosis) (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
  • Return to top

• Patient Handouts

  • Angioplasty and stent placement - peripheral arteries
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Arteriogram
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Atherosclerosis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Doppler ultrasound exam of an arm or leg
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Extremity angiography
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Hardening of the arteries
  • Also available in Spanish
  • How Is Atherosclerosis Treated?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Magnetic resonance angiography
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top