Health encyclopaedia

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Causes of Atherosclerosis

Arteries affected by atherosclerosis lose their elasticity, and as the plaques grow, the arteries narrow. The build-up of plaque is thought to begin early in life. It is a slow, progressive disease, which to some extent is a disease of ageing; many older people have some degree of artery narrowing.

Risk factors include:

• smoking,
• high blood pressure,
• diabetes,
• obesity,
• high cholesterol levels, and 
• family history.

Men have a higher risk than women, though after menopause, the risk increases in women and eventually equals that in men. [1]

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