Atherosclerosis Causes and Risk Factors
Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels, or they smoke. These are key risk factors that can trigger the start of buildup.
What causes atherosclerosis?
Plaque buildup in the starts with damage to the arteries. Risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, medical conditions, or your can cause this damage.
cells travel to the damaged areas of the artery and release chemical signals. These signals cause cholesterol and cell waste to collect at the damaged spots. This buildup attracts white blood cells that eat the cholesterol and clump together, forming plaque.
As the plaque grows, the artery narrows, reducing the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the limbs and organs. Over time, plaque can break up and flow into the bloodstream. This may lead to , which can block blood flow. If this happens, nearby tissue can't get enough and may die, causing a heart attack, stroke, or limb pain.
What raises the risk of atherosclerosis?
Some atherosclerosis risk factors can trigger the buildup of plaque in your arteries. Other risk factors can lead to an increase in your blood pressure or cholesterol levels. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of complications, including heart attack and stroke, or even disability or death.
Some common examples of risk factors for atherosclerosis are:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar can damage the inner layers of the arteries, causing plaque buildup.
- Family history: Your genes may raise your risk, especially if you have a common cholesterol disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia. This condition affects about 1 in 300 people.
- High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure can damage artery walls, allowing plaque to build up. In the United States, high blood pressure accounts for more deaths linked to atherosclerosis than any other risk factor that you can change.
- Inflammatory diseases: When you have a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, high levels of can injure your blood vessels, which can lead to plaque buildup.
- Lack of physical activity: Spending little time moving each day while spending a lot of time in front of screens is linked to unhealthy cholesterol levels that lead to atherosclerosis.
- Older age: For most people, plaque buildup starts in childhood and gets worse as they get older. In men, the risk increases after age 45. In women, the risk increases after age 55. The risk is even higher for women who have endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome, or if they had gestational diabetes or preeclampsia during a pregnancy.
- Overweight or obesity: Overweight and obesity raise the risk for heart disease and are linked to many other health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cancer. Nearly 3 in 4 adults ages 20 or older in the United States are either overweight or have obesity. Nearly 1 in 5 children and teens ages 2 to 19 have obesity.
- Race: Black Americans' risk of death from heart disease is 30% higher than White Americans' risk. People of South Asian origin (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) also have a higher heart disease risk.
- Smoking and secondhand smoke: Almost one-third of deaths caused by coronary heart disease are linked to smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke can cause atherosclerosis-linked disease and stroke.
- Unhealthy diet: Eating a lot of foods high in fat — especially saturated fat — can increase your cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in meat and dairy products (except nonfat dairy). Also, drinking too much alcohol or binge drinking can raise your total cholesterol level.
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women of all ages, races, shapes, and sizes in the United States? Learn more about heart disease in women.
The good news is that adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of diseases linked with plaque buildup. Starting a healthier lifestyle at a young age raises the chance you will practice good heart health into middle and older ages.
Lower your blood cholesterol using sample menus and tips for success.
What should you do if you have risk factors?
Talk with your healthcare provider about your heart health. Together, you can set up a plan to reduce your risk, monitor your health, and manage your risk factors to delay or prevent disease caused by atherosclerosis. Starting treatment early is the key to preventing symptoms and complications, such as heart attack or stroke.
Life's Essential 8 is a list created by the American Heart Association that offers ways to maintain or improve your heart health. Better heart health helps lower the risk for heart disease, stroke, and other major health problems.