Causes of heart disease include the thickening and hardening of the inside walls of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when a fatty substance called plaque builds up on the artery walls, causing them to narrow. Certain risk factors, such as being male, having high cholesterol, and eating a diet high in saturated fat, can accelerate the causes of heart disease and increase a person's risk.
Causes of Heart Disease: An Overview
Causes of Heart Disease: Understanding Atherosclerosis
In atherosclerosis,
plaque deposits build up in the arteries. Plaque is made up of fat,
cholesterol, calcium, and other substances from the blood. Plaque buildup in the arteries often begins in childhood. Over time, buildup in the coronary arteries can:
- Narrow the arteries so that less blood can flow to the heart muscle
- Completely block the arteries and the flow of blood
- Cause blood clots to form and block the arteries.
The two types of plaque deposits in the arteries are:
- Hard and stable
- Soft and unstable.
Hard and stable plaque causes the artery walls to thicken and harden. This condition is associated more with
angina (chest pain) than with a
heart attack, but heart attacks frequently occur with hard plaque. Soft and unstable plaque, on the other hand, is more likely to break open or apart and cause blood clots. This can lead to a heart attack.
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