Atherosclerosis

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There is a broader, perhaps slightly less biased, article on Wikipedia about Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the "hardening of the arteries"^[1] caused by cholesterol build-up in the arteries. For reasons doctors never bother expounding, this magically never happens in the veins.

[edit] Technical definition

An atherosclerotic artery

Atherosclerosis, a form of arteriosclerosis, is a hardening of the arteries caused by atheromatous plaque, which is a fancy medical term for cholesterol built up in the arteries. The plaque build up causes the muscle cell surrounding the artery to enlarge and harden, which in turn increases blood pressure and reduces peripheral blood flow. Atherosclerosis is a form of cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States.^[2]

[edit] Causes

The main cause of atherosclerosis is low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Without a high enough quantity of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs - the functional, "good" cholesterol), the LDLs build up in the arteries causing the aforementioned systemic response.

[edit] Symptoms

Get off your ass and run, fat boy!

Atherosclerosis is undetectable until some sort of acute event. The plaques become so large that parts of them begin to break off and enter into systemic circulation (as clots, essentially), which can occlude blood flow. This can lead to stroke, or heart attack, or other damage, depending on the location of the occlusion.

[edit] Prevention

The best prevention is to get off your ass, exercise, and eat healthy. The USDA food pyramid recommends lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, and a sedentary lifestyle is one of the many risk factors for atherosclerosis^[3]

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑ This is one of the most over-used descriptions in medical history. No mention of atherosclerosis is complete without it. Additionally, beyond the fact that it "sounds bad", this description tells the audience almost nothing about what atherosclerosis actually is.
2. ↑ "Chronic Disease - Overview." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 20 Mar 2008. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 May 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview_text.htm>.
3. ↑ "Who Is At Risk for Atherosclerosis?." National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Diseases and Conditions Index. Nov 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 15 May 2008 <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Atherosclerosis/atherosclerosis_risk.html>.