These substances include cholesterol, minerals, blood, and muscle cells. This buildup makes the artery stiffer than normal and causes partial or complete blockage of blood flow. It is also commonly found in the largest artery in the body, the aorta, and its branches to the arms and legs. Atherosclerosis tends to collect near branching points in the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is more common as people get older and gets worse over time.
Atherosclerosis is a sequence of events. The injury may be due to the stress of blood flow in the vessel. Other causes might be virus damage, irritants such as nicotine or drug stimulants, or an allergic reaction. At the point of injury, circulating white blood cells called monocytes attach themselves to the vessel wall and burrow beneath the surface. Lipids, which include fats and cholesterol, are carried all over the body by the blood.