Plaque consists of fatty deposits that accumulate on the walls of your arteries. With plaque buildup, the artery walls harden and their passageway narrows, limiting blood flow to other organs and body parts that need oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to function. This results in a condition known asatherosclerosisand can lead to a number of other serious cardiovascular conditions.
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Causes of Plaque
Plaque consists of cholesterol, fat, calcium, fibrin, and cellular waste products.Its formation involves a complex process in which waxy cholesterol adheres to the arterial walls, causing them to thicken, harden, and narrow. This eventually leads toatherosclerosis.
Cholesterolis found in every cell in the body. It plays an important part in the production of vitamin D, hormones, and substances that aid in food digestion.There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
HDL, also known as the “good” cholesterol, takes cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver, which then eliminates it from the body. LDL, or the “bad” cholesterol, is responsible for creating the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
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To help lower cholesterol, experts recommend making several lifestyle changes.
12 Ways to Reduce LDL Cholesterol
Risk Factors for Plaque
Plaque build-up in the arteries is inevitable, but many risk factors may lead to atherosclerosis. Several of these risk factors can be controlled and help delay or prevent atherosclerosis, while others can’t be controlled.
The following risk factors should be carefully monitored.
Warning Signs of Plaque BuildupPlaque in arteries doesn’t cause any symptoms or signs unless an artery has narrowed or is blocked and blood flow is unable to efficiently reach other parts of the body. Most people won’t know their arteries are hardened or blocked until they have a heart attack or stroke.For example, a person with narrowed or blocked coronary arteries may have ischemic heart disease and experienceangina. Other symptoms can be shortness of breath andarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat rhythm).People with blocked carotid arteries may experience symptoms that indicate a stroke. These may range from sudden weakness, confusion, paralysis, speech problems (speaking and understanding), and vision issues to severe headache, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.If you experience any of the above, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.
Warning Signs of Plaque Buildup
Plaque in arteries doesn’t cause any symptoms or signs unless an artery has narrowed or is blocked and blood flow is unable to efficiently reach other parts of the body. Most people won’t know their arteries are hardened or blocked until they have a heart attack or stroke.For example, a person with narrowed or blocked coronary arteries may have ischemic heart disease and experienceangina. Other symptoms can be shortness of breath andarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat rhythm).People with blocked carotid arteries may experience symptoms that indicate a stroke. These may range from sudden weakness, confusion, paralysis, speech problems (speaking and understanding), and vision issues to severe headache, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.If you experience any of the above, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.
Plaque in arteries doesn’t cause any symptoms or signs unless an artery has narrowed or is blocked and blood flow is unable to efficiently reach other parts of the body. Most people won’t know their arteries are hardened or blocked until they have a heart attack or stroke.
For example, a person with narrowed or blocked coronary arteries may have ischemic heart disease and experienceangina. Other symptoms can be shortness of breath andarrhythmia(irregular heartbeat rhythm).
People with blocked carotid arteries may experience symptoms that indicate a stroke. These may range from sudden weakness, confusion, paralysis, speech problems (speaking and understanding), and vision issues to severe headache, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
If you experience any of the above, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.
Reducing Plaque
An artery-friendly eating plan like the Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits and vegetables but also includes olive oil, nuts, fish, and limited portions of meat, dairy, and wine.Whichever eating plan you select, be sure to watch calorie consumption and maintain a healthy weight to lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.
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In addition to diet, experts recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes (that’s 2.5 hours) of moderate physical activity each week.
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A Word From Verywell
In spite of the asymptomatic nature of plaque buildup in the arteries, it’s important that you have your cholesterol levels regularly checked to lower your risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association advises all adults 20 and older check their blood cholesterol every four to six years as long as their risk remains low. By the time you’ve reached age 40, your healthcare provider may monitor your levels more closely based on your age, gender, family history, and other factors. They will determine which treatment is best for your case—whether lifestyle changes, medication, or some combination of both—depending on the results of your cholesterol measurements.
11 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.American Heart Association.Atherosclerosis.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol.Harvard Health.Can we reduce vascular plaque buildup?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: types, tests, treatments, prevention.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atherosclerosis.Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Tuso P, Stoll SR, Li WW.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015;19(1):62-67. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-036Martínez-González MA, Gea A, Ruiz-Canela M.The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health.Circ Res. 2019;124(5):779-798. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313348Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition.Harvard Health.Avoiding atherosclerosis: The killer you can’t see.
11 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.American Heart Association.Atherosclerosis.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol.Harvard Health.Can we reduce vascular plaque buildup?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: types, tests, treatments, prevention.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atherosclerosis.Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Tuso P, Stoll SR, Li WW.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015;19(1):62-67. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-036Martínez-González MA, Gea A, Ruiz-Canela M.The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health.Circ Res. 2019;124(5):779-798. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313348Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition.Harvard Health.Avoiding atherosclerosis: The killer you can’t see.
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.
American Heart Association.Atherosclerosis.MedlinePlus.Cholesterol.Harvard Health.Can we reduce vascular plaque buildup?Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: types, tests, treatments, prevention.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atherosclerosis.Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003Tuso P, Stoll SR, Li WW.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015;19(1):62-67. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-036Martínez-González MA, Gea A, Ruiz-Canela M.The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health.Circ Res. 2019;124(5):779-798. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313348Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition.Harvard Health.Avoiding atherosclerosis: The killer you can’t see.
American Heart Association.Atherosclerosis.
MedlinePlus.Cholesterol.
Harvard Health.Can we reduce vascular plaque buildup?
Cleveland Clinic.Cholesterol: types, tests, treatments, prevention.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atherosclerosis.
Flack JM, Adekola B.Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020;30(3):160-164. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.05.003
Tuso P, Stoll SR, Li WW.A plant-based diet, atherogenesis, and coronary artery disease prevention.Perm J. 2015;19(1):62-67. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-036
Martínez-González MA, Gea A, Ruiz-Canela M.The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health.Circ Res. 2019;124(5):779-798. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313348
Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition.
Harvard Health.Avoiding atherosclerosis: The killer you can’t see.
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