What causes hardening of the arteries?
The specific cause of atherosclerosis is not known, but it does occur when fatty substances such as cholesterol build-up inside the arteries, eventually creating a narrowed, or blocked opening that restricts blood flow. There are risk factors strongly associated with development of the disease which include cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high levels of fat in diet, diabetes, overweight, lack of regular exercise, stress and family history.
