The cause or causes of atherosclerosis are still under investigation. Risk factors for the condition include being overweight or obese, having high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking. While not causes of atherosclerosis, these factors can contribute to a person's risk of developing the disease.
Heart disease research doctors and scientists do not know the exact cause or causes of atherosclerosis. Scientists think that the buildup of plaque starts when the lining of the artery is damaged or injured, but they are not sure why and how the artery becomes damaged in the first place.
Scientists are also unsure of when atherosclerosis begins. They do know that it is a slow and complex disease that may start in childhood. They also think that atherosclerosis develops faster as people grow older.
Atherosclerosis Risk Factors Versus Causes of Atherosclerosis
While not causes of atherosclerosis, there are a number of factors that can increase a person's chance of developing it.
Having close relatives with heart disease at younger ages (diagnosed before age 55 in a father or brother; diagnosed before age 65 in a mother or sister).
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