If cell death occurs it is called infarction . The process that causes Coronary Artery Disease, Angina and heart attacks is called atherosclerosis . Atherosclerosis Arteriosclerosis is a more general term for hardening of the arteries . Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that causes a buildup of fatty material along the inner lining of arteries. If the blockage occurs in one of the arteries near the brain a stroke can occur.
Atherosclerosis takes many years, even decades to develop.
Sometimes it causes symptoms in a gradual way in the form of angina. However, it can cause symptoms in a sudden severe way, as in a heart attack. Some of these risk factors can be changed and some obviously cannot. Some risk factors you can change on your own or with the help of your physician. Some risk factors have an effect on each other.