The cause for atherosclerosis is not completely understood. However, the most accepted explanation starts with injury to the inner wall of the artery.

This injury can be caused by:

• High cholesterol
• Infection
• Toxins
• Smoking
• High blood sugar

In response to the injury, inflammation occurs, which causes further damage to the inside wall of the artery. Cholesterol is deposited at the site of the injury and the cholesterol is covered by a layer of scar tissue. The scar tissue is produced by the cells that make up the wall of the artery.

The combination of cholesterol and scar tissue is called a plaque. The plaque may continue to grow on the inside of the vessel, reducing the space for blood to flow through the vessel. The plaque may also break away from the wall of the blood vessel, where it is carried further in the artery by the bloodstream. As the artery becomes smaller and smaller, eventually the plaque becomes stuck in the artery. This completely stops blood from flowing to the tissues supplied by the artery.

Atherosclerosis can cause:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Kidney disease
• Blindness
• Loss of a limb
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Ischemic bowel disease
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Dissecting thoracic aneurysm