Once you’ve developed atherosclerosis, some conditions can make it worse.

1. Diabetes

Atherosclerosis often develops earlier and more extensively in patients with diabetes. These patients tend to have atherosclerosis not only in big arteries, but small blood vessels as well.

2. High blood pressure

High blood pressure increases damage to the lining of arteries and is associated with inflammation reaction.

3. Obesity

Abdominal obesity raises the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, which can cause damage to the arteries. Obesity itself also increases the risk of having atherosclerosis in the arteries supplying blood to the heart.

4. Smoking

Smoking injures the inner lining of the arteries, raises LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL (good cholesterol). It has been linked to the progression of atherosclerosis.

To prevent or slow down the development of atherosclerosis, keep blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and diabetes under good control.

Source: webmd.com

Also see: Atherosclerosis (1) — How does it develop?

Cholesterol is made by our livers and is important to maintain healthy cells and to make hormones.

We also get cholesterol from diet: red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL; “bad” cholesterol) is the type we want to lower. It transports cholesterol to tissues, while high-density lipoproteins (HDL; “good” cholesterol) transfer cholesterol from tissue to liver. HDL is the type we want to increase.

High levels of LDL eventually causes atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) which leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Atherosclerosis often starts slowly in childhood and progresses year after year. It usually begins with an injury to an artery’s lining caused by high blood pressure, tobacco, etc.

Cholesterol and other fats will then deposit at the damaged site and gradually form plaque, which impedes blood flow or breaks down and block arteries in important organs, like heart or brain.

Although in some people, genetics plays a role in high cholesterol, unhealthy lifestyle accounts for most of the cases.

There are prescription drugs and herbal supplements that help to lower cholesterol. However, for many of us, simple changes in lifestyle will benefit much.

To read the original article, click here. Also see Control Your Cholesterol (2) — Diet, (3)  — Other Lifestyle Changes, and (4) — Other measures.

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. It raises the risk of having heart attack and stroke.

High cholesterol, especially LDL (bad cholesterol), plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis. Although genetics is an important factor in high cholesterol, other lifestyle factors contribute significantly too, such as overweight, physically inactive, having a diet with high saturated fat and cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis can start early in life and develop gradually.

The inner lining of a healthy artery is smooth and intact. But many factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) can cause injury and damage of this lining, which triggers an inflammatory reaction.

White blood cells get into the damaged artery wall and form foam cells. They accumulate fat and cholesterol, as well as other substances, which eventually form atherosclerotic plaque.

These plaques get thicker and harder overtime and bulge into the bloodstream to reduce or block blood flow. When an atheroma ruptures, it can lead to heart attack or stoke.

Source: webmd.com

Also see: Atherosclerosis (2) — Conditions that worsen it.