What is atherosclerosis?
According to the American Heart Association, atherosclerosis, a form of cardiovascular disease, is defined as “the process in which deposits of lipids, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque. . . Plaques can grow large enough to significantly reduce the blood’s flow through an artery, but most of the damage occurs when plaques become fragile and rupture. Plaques that rupture cause blood clots to form that can block blood flow or break off and travel to another part of the body.
