What is plaque and what causes it?
Plaque is a fatty material made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. High blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol begin to damage the endothelium, a thin layer of cells lining the arteries that keep them toned and smooth, which keeps the blood flowing without obstruction. Bad cholesterol, or LDL, crosses damaged endothelium. The cholesterol enters the wall of the artery. Your white blood cells stream in to digest the LDL cholesterol. Over years, the accumulating mess of cholesterol and cells becomes plaque in the wall of the artery.
