Arteries carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, but plaque buildup from factors such as poor diet and smoking can cause damage and lead to heart disease. Abstaining from smoking, exercise, and a healthy diet can reduce the risk of plaque buildup and disease. High blood pressure can also cause damage to artery walls, but can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication.
Arteries are the part of the human circulatory system through which blood carries oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body. Most arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to every system in the body. The inside of arteries is normally smooth and unobstructed, but as a person ages, a sticky substance commonly called plaque can develop and build up on the inside walls. The presence of arterial plaque to some extent is nearly universal in adults, particularly the elderly, but excessive buildup can be caused by damaged artery walls, due to factors such as poor diet and smoking.
Abstaining from smoking remains the best way for people to reduce the risk of plaque buildup and disease. In addition to blocking blood flow in vital arteries, small pieces of plaque can sometimes break off. If these pieces get lodged in the brain or heart, they can cause a person to suffer a heart attack or stroke.
Coronary artery disease, also called heart disease, is the most common cause of death in the United States in both men and women. It is caused by the buildup of arterial plaque in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle itself. Without adequate oxygen, the heart cannot pump enough blood, therefore causing the rest of the body to lack oxygen.
Buildup in coronary arteries and elsewhere occurs when the normally smooth arterial lining becomes damaged. This damage creates a rough spot on which plaques can build up. Plaques actually form in part as a result of the body’s natural healing mechanisms attempting to heal the damaged artery. Arterial plaque is made up of fibrous tissue, cholesterol, and calcium. As more damage occurs and more plaque builds up, the artery walls lose elasticity and harden, a condition called atherosclerosis.
Damage to artery walls is usually caused by factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a particularly insidious cause of arterial damage because it can affect a person even when they are relatively healthy and do not smoke. It wounds artery walls in the same way that a raging river will erode its banks much faster than one that flows steadily and calmly. Regular exercise and a healthy diet, often paired with prescription drugs, can lower blood pressure to a safer level. Diet and exercise also reduce the amount of fatty acids and cholesterol in the blood, slowing plaque formation.
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