It is a build up of cholesterol and other fat substances within the walls of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease and can develop in any artery in the body. It is a common disorder of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is the major form of heart disease in Western countries.
Over one half of all deaths in the US are a direct or indirect result of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is triggered by excess amounts of unstable particles known as oxygen-free radicals, which bind with and alter other molecules, a process called oxidation. The particles are usually released as part of normal bodily processes, but environmental toxins, such as viruses or smoking, can hinder the body from releasing them and produce excess amounts. In atherosclerosis, fatty deposits called plaque, build up on the inner wall of the coronary arteries. These fatty deposits usually develop over many years.