Cardiovascular Diseases

Atheroma

• The artery wall is made up of several layers and these are the endothelium, the wall made of elastic tissue and the lumen which blood flows through.

• The endothelium is the inner lining and this is usually very smooth - if it gets damaged, then white blood cells and lipids in the blood clump together at the damaged point under the lining and form fatty streaks.
• Over time, more white blood cells, lipids and connective tissues build up there - hardening and making a fibrous plaque known as an Atheroma.
• This plaque can partially block the lumen
• It restricts the blood flow coming through the artery
• This causes blood pressure to increase

Risk factors for getting atheroma: (generally high blood pressure - Hypertension)

most of these are lifestyle risk factors:

• Smoking
• Bad Diet including too much salt
• Lack of Exercise
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Strong genetic links in family history
• Growing older - age

Atheromas…