heart and blood vessel disorders
Atherosclerosis
Introduction
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which patchy deposits of fatty material (atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques) develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or blocked blood flow. Atherosclerosis is caused by repeated injury to the walls of arteries. Many factors contribute to this injury, including high blood pressure, tobacco smoke, diabetes, and high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Blood vessel blockage due to atherosclerosis is a common cause of heart attack and stroke. Often, the first symptom is pain or cramps at times when blood flow cannot keep up with the tissues' need for oxygen. To prevent atherosclerosis, people need to stop using tobacco, improve their diet, exercise regularly, and maintain control of their blood pressure, cholesterol level, and diabetes. Progression of atherosclerosis to such life-threatening complications as a heart attack or stroke requires emergency treatment. In 2019, cardiovascular disease, primarily Overview of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (atherosclerosis that affects the arteries supplying blood to the heart) and Atherosclerosis can affect the medium-sized and large arteries of the brain, heart, kidneys, other vital organs, and legs. It is the most important and most common type ofarteriosclerosis. 