Increased red cell numbers result in more viscous blood, greater resistance, and potential hypertension. Don t confuse blood thinners that slow clotting time with factors that affect the flow properties of moving blood. The term can be misleading. Notice from your reading that arteriosclerosis is a general term referring to the normal hardening of arteries that occurs with aging. However, the process can be abnormally accelerated.
Atherosclerosis is one of the ways of accelerating the hardening process.
Contrary to popular belief, atheromatous plaque develops within the artery wall and does not just adhere to its inner surface. As the process progresses, the artery wall thickens and weakens and may become calcified in extreme cases. The thickening of the wall narrows the vessel lumen and mimics vasoconstriction by reducing blood flow downstream and raising upstream pressures. Also, the affected wall surface is disrupted and roughened attracting platelets, which can rupture and initiate clot formation. A clot so formed is an intravascular thrombus and can break loose becoming an embolus .