What happens when the arteries become blocked with fat?

Atherosclerosis, sometimes called “hardening of the arteries,” occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. These deposits are called plaques. Over time, these plaques can narrow or completely block the arteries and cause problems throughout the body.

How does fat build up in arteries?

The Power of Food Certain foods can cause the body to make too much of a waxy substance called cholesterol. Cholesterol can combine with fat, calcium, and other substances in the blood to form plaque. Plaque then slowly builds up and hardens in the arteries, causing them to narrow.

Why do cholesterol plaques occur in arteries and not veins?

Instead, it binds with other substances and deposits itself along the walls of your arteries. This cholesterol can then harden, and there the problems begin. Once this hardened cholesterol (often called plaque) forms, two things happen. The passage through which your blood flows becomes narrower.

How do you reverse hardening of the arteries?

To prevent and reverse the hardening or narrowing of arteries, we recommend a heart healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, along with regular exercise. We also suggest quitting smoking and controlling chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

What are clogged arteries and what causes them?

What are clogged arteries? Plaque is a mixture of fat, calcium, cholesterol, and waste from the cells in the body. This mix can stick to the walls of the arteries, making these blood vessels narrower. When this happens, it is called atherosclerosis.

How does the type of fat affect plaque in the arteries?

The type of fat a person eats can affect plaque in the arteries. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that a person limits their intake of saturated fats and trans fats. This is because these kinds of fats contain high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the main material of plaque in the arteries.

What happens if you have a 30\% blockage in your artery?

“If we have a 30\% blockage in the artery from soft plaque, the goal is to try to suck out the cholesterol from the inside so the plaque shrivels down to 15\% and leaves nothing inside it,” says Dr. Cannon. Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage in parts of the world, it is slowly retreating in the U.S.

Can you have blocked arteries and not know it?

Many people with blocked arteries or atherosclerosis are unaware that they have it until they develop symptoms, such as angina or claudication. Unfortunately, sometimes the first time that someone realises that they have atherosclerosis is when they have an event such as a stroke or a heart attack.