Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Prevention
The most common cause of cloggedarteriesisatherosclerosis, which isplaque buildupin the arteries. Lifestyle factors, such as diet and smoking, can lead to atherosclerosis. Genetic factors, such as a predisposition tohigh cholesterollevels, also raise the risk for plaque to cause clogged arteries.
Blockages in the arteries of the heart are among the most serious because they can causeheart attacks. Blockages in the arteries of the brain or neck can causestrokes. However, arterial blockages can strike anywhere. The symptoms of clogged arteries depend on where the blockage occurs and which body part is affected.
This article explains the causes of clogged arteries, the symptoms of the conditions to which they contribute, and how the blockages are diagnosed and treated. It also offers tips on how to prevent clogged arteries.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
In some cases, high cholesterol is genetic, but it is mostly linked to diet and lifestyle choices including your level of exercise, whether you smoke, and if you are overweight.
How Smoking Affects Your Cholesterol and Heart
What Foods Cause Clogged Arteries?
Eating a diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, and triglycerides is linked to an increased risk ofatherosclerosis.
Saturated fatsare the type of fat in animal-based foods that is solid at room temperature, whiletrans fatsare processed vegetable oils that are also solid at room temperature.Triglyceridesare a type of fat that can build up in arteries.
Among foods that contribute to clogged arteries are:
Are All Red Meats and Dairy Bad for You?While the excessive intake of saturated fat can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, red meat and dairy on their own are not “bad” for your arteries.While whole milk is linked to an increased risk ofcoronary artery disease (CAD), high-fat yogurt is not and cheese is associated with a decreased risk.Similarly, the amount of saturated fat in a piece of red meat plays a more important role in your risk of CAD than red meat itself (which is why processed meats like sausages are so bad for you).
Are All Red Meats and Dairy Bad for You?
While the excessive intake of saturated fat can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, red meat and dairy on their own are not “bad” for your arteries.While whole milk is linked to an increased risk ofcoronary artery disease (CAD), high-fat yogurt is not and cheese is associated with a decreased risk.Similarly, the amount of saturated fat in a piece of red meat plays a more important role in your risk of CAD than red meat itself (which is why processed meats like sausages are so bad for you).
While the excessive intake of saturated fat can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, red meat and dairy on their own are not “bad” for your arteries.
While whole milk is linked to an increased risk ofcoronary artery disease (CAD), high-fat yogurt is not and cheese is associated with a decreased risk.
Similarly, the amount of saturated fat in a piece of red meat plays a more important role in your risk of CAD than red meat itself (which is why processed meats like sausages are so bad for you).
Keto and Cholesterol: Low Carb Diet and Heart Health
An artery clogged with plaque.jamesbenet/Getty Images
You may also notice that different parts of your body begin to suffer from a reduced supply of oxygenated blood, especially if the artery becomes completely clogged. Your symptoms depend on where the blockage occurs and what part of your body receives a reduced blood supply.
Symptoms of blocked or clogged arteries can include:
Warning Signs of Clogged Arteries
In some cases, a clogged artery can cause serious symptoms and require emergency care. This primarily applies when the clogged artery is one that is supplying blood to a vital organ like thebrainor heart.
Symptoms that can signal a medical emergency include:
When to Seek Immediate Medical CareCall 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately if you or someone you are with has chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble speaking, loss of consciousness, or other serious symptoms of heart attack or stroke.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Care
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately if you or someone you are with has chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble speaking, loss of consciousness, or other serious symptoms of heart attack or stroke.
How High Cholesterol Levels Increase Stroke Risk
A diet that is high in fats and cholesterol is just one of the things that can contribute to a buildup of plaques and clogged arteries.
Other risk factors for clogged arteries can include:
LDL vs. HDL: What’s the Difference?High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is generally considered the “good” cholesterol because it helps to move LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, out of the bloodstream and into the liver for processing. LDL is the cholesterol most responsible for causing clogged arteries. It’s considered high beginning at levels of 130 to 159 milligrams per deciliter.
LDL vs. HDL: What’s the Difference?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is generally considered the “good” cholesterol because it helps to move LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, out of the bloodstream and into the liver for processing. LDL is the cholesterol most responsible for causing clogged arteries. It’s considered high beginning at levels of 130 to 159 milligrams per deciliter.
Lower “Bad” LDL Cholesterol While Raising “Good” HDL Cholesterol
Diagnosing arterial problems may begin with your primary care doctor, but if a blockage is suspected, you will most likely be referred to acardiologistor vascular specialist.
Who you see depends a lot on where the blockage is and what problems it is causing. For example, if you have a blockage in an artery that feeds your brain, you may also need to see aneurologist.
Your diagnosis will begin with a physical exam, as well as a review of your personal and family medical history. Additional testing may be done to pinpoint the location and degree of the blockage. Testing can include:
These tests can be used to measure the amount of fats and cholesterol in your blood, how much resistance your heart faces when pumping blood (blood pressure), how well oxygen-rich blood is reaching certain parts of the body, and the degree of damage to areas of the body where there is a clogged artery.
Treating clogged arteries should be done with a holistic approach. Your doctor will first address the problems that led to the clogged artery. Lifestyle changes are key, and may include:
Medications
Medications may be used to help you manage conditions that can cause clogged arteries, including:
You may also be prescribed medications like anticoagulants or antiplatelets to help prevent complications of clogged arteries.
Overview of the Types of Insulin
Specialist Procedures
If the blockage is more severe, a surgeon may need to help clear the artery mechanically. This can be done in several ways, usually with a minimally invasive technique that involves a catheter fed into the vessel. Some techniques to clear a clogged artery include:
The most concerning complications of clogged arteries are heart attack and stroke. A heart attack can occur when there is blockage in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. When a blockage affects the brain, this is called anischemic stroke. This type of stroke can be treated effectively with strong blood thinners.
Other complications include ischemia, an inadequate blood supply to an organ or body part. It can affect any part of the body. Ischemia occurs whenever oxygen is cut off from an area of the body, and tissues tend to become damaged quickly without oxygen.
What Are the Treatment Options for Angina?
Prevention and Management
The key to keeping your arteries clear of blockages is to eat a low-fat diet and exercise regularly. Plant-based diets have even been shown to help reversecoronary artery diseasein some people.
You also need to make sure you manage other chronic conditions that may increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Summary
Clogged arteries occur when plaques, which are made up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, build up in your artery walls and cause your arteries to narrow. This blockage reduces blood flow to your organs and tissues. Clogged arteries in general can lead to different health issues depending on where they occur. Prevention through a healthy lifestyle is usually the best defense against clogged arteries.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sharifi M, Futema M, Nair D, Humphries SE.Polygenic hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease risk.Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019;21(6):43. doi:10.1007/s11886-019-1130-zAmerican Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know your risk of heart disease.National Health Service.How to eat less saturated fat.Fan B, Huang X, Zhao JV.Exploration of metabolic biomarkers linking red meat consumption to ischemic heart disease mortality in the UK Biobank.Nutrients.2023 Apr;15(8):1865. doi:10.3390/nu15081865Jakobsen MU, Trolle E, Outzen M, et al.Intake of dairy products and associations with major atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.Sci Rep.2021;11:1303. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79708-xBronzato S, Durante A.A contemporary review of the relationship between red meat consumption and cardiovascular risk.Int J Prev Med.2017;8:40. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_206_16Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.The warning signs of clogged arteries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease.American Stroke Association.Stroke symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.Esselstyn CB, Gendy G, Doyle J, Golubic M, Roizen MF.A way to reverse CAD?J Fam Pract.2014;63(7):356-364b.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sharifi M, Futema M, Nair D, Humphries SE.Polygenic hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease risk.Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019;21(6):43. doi:10.1007/s11886-019-1130-zAmerican Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know your risk of heart disease.National Health Service.How to eat less saturated fat.Fan B, Huang X, Zhao JV.Exploration of metabolic biomarkers linking red meat consumption to ischemic heart disease mortality in the UK Biobank.Nutrients.2023 Apr;15(8):1865. doi:10.3390/nu15081865Jakobsen MU, Trolle E, Outzen M, et al.Intake of dairy products and associations with major atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.Sci Rep.2021;11:1303. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79708-xBronzato S, Durante A.A contemporary review of the relationship between red meat consumption and cardiovascular risk.Int J Prev Med.2017;8:40. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_206_16Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.The warning signs of clogged arteries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease.American Stroke Association.Stroke symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.Esselstyn CB, Gendy G, Doyle J, Golubic M, Roizen MF.A way to reverse CAD?J Fam Pract.2014;63(7):356-364b.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sharifi M, Futema M, Nair D, Humphries SE.Polygenic hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease risk.Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019;21(6):43. doi:10.1007/s11886-019-1130-zAmerican Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know your risk of heart disease.National Health Service.How to eat less saturated fat.Fan B, Huang X, Zhao JV.Exploration of metabolic biomarkers linking red meat consumption to ischemic heart disease mortality in the UK Biobank.Nutrients.2023 Apr;15(8):1865. doi:10.3390/nu15081865Jakobsen MU, Trolle E, Outzen M, et al.Intake of dairy products and associations with major atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.Sci Rep.2021;11:1303. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79708-xBronzato S, Durante A.A contemporary review of the relationship between red meat consumption and cardiovascular risk.Int J Prev Med.2017;8:40. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_206_16Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.The warning signs of clogged arteries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease.American Stroke Association.Stroke symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.Esselstyn CB, Gendy G, Doyle J, Golubic M, Roizen MF.A way to reverse CAD?J Fam Pract.2014;63(7):356-364b.
Sharifi M, Futema M, Nair D, Humphries SE.Polygenic hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease risk.Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019;21(6):43. doi:10.1007/s11886-019-1130-z
American Heart Association.Causes of high cholesterol.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know your risk of heart disease.
National Health Service.How to eat less saturated fat.
Fan B, Huang X, Zhao JV.Exploration of metabolic biomarkers linking red meat consumption to ischemic heart disease mortality in the UK Biobank.Nutrients.2023 Apr;15(8):1865. doi:10.3390/nu15081865
Jakobsen MU, Trolle E, Outzen M, et al.Intake of dairy products and associations with major atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.Sci Rep.2021;11:1303. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79708-x
Bronzato S, Durante A.A contemporary review of the relationship between red meat consumption and cardiovascular risk.Int J Prev Med.2017;8:40. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_206_16
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.The warning signs of clogged arteries.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Peripheral arterial disease.
American Stroke Association.Stroke symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atherosclerosis.
Esselstyn CB, Gendy G, Doyle J, Golubic M, Roizen MF.A way to reverse CAD?J Fam Pract.2014;63(7):356-364b.
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