### What is Atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is a condition where plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances. Over time, this buildup can restrict blood flow and lead to serious health issues like heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). ### Causes The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn't fully understood, but it starts when the inner lining of your arteries gets damaged. Factors that can damage your arteries include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. ### Symptoms Atherosclerosis often doesn't show symptoms until it becomes severe. Symptoms depend on which arteries are affected: - **Coronary arteries**: Chest pain or discomfort - **Brain arteries**: Sudden numbness or weakness, difficulty speaking - **Peripheral arteries**: Leg pain when walking - **Kidney arteries**: High blood pressure or kidney failure ### Risk Factors Several factors increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis, including: - High cholesterol - High blood pressure - Smoking - Diabetes - Obesity - Lack of physical activity - Unhealthy diet ### Diagnosis Doctors diagnose atherosclerosis through physical exams and tests like blood tests, Doppler ultrasound, and angiography. They may also listen for abnormal sounds in your arteries. ### Treatments Treatment focuses on lifestyle changes and medications to manage risk factors. These include: - **Lifestyle changes**: Healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking - **Medications**: Drugs to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, antiplatelet medications like aspirin - **Procedures**: In severe cases, doctors may recommend procedures like angioplasty or surgery to open or bypass blocked arteries. ### Diabetes and Atherosclerosis Diabetes significantly increases the risk of atherosclerosis. Managing blood sugar levels is crucial to reduce this risk. Regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle are essential for diabetic patients to prevent complications from atherosclerosis.