1. By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach
Atherosclerosis
By Leanna, Alyssa, and Zach

2. Overview Buildup of plaque in arteries
Causes hardening of the arteries
Restricts blood flow
Atherosclerosis in the heart is called
Coronary Artery Disease
Sudden plaque rupture or clotting can cause the heart muscle to die.

3. Causes of Atherosclerosis
Sometime beginning in early childhood, atherosclerosis is a slow working and complex disease.
As you get older, atherosclerosis begins to develope faster.
The exact cause of Atherosclerosis is still undetermined.
Some experts say that it can start with damage to the endothelium, which
leads to the forming of plaque
The endothelium is the lining inside of cells, which is responsible for
keeping the arteries smooth. This eases the blood flow of blood through
arteries.
Atherosclerosis can develop when several different factors cause damage
in the innermost layers of the arteries. These include:
Smoking
High blood pressure
High amounts of cholesterol in blood
High amounts of sugar in the blood (can be due to Diabetes or insulin
resistance)
Plaque will begin to build up when the arteries are damaged.
Platelets then will begin attaching to the site of injury, bunching together to form blood clots.
These blood clots further limit the blood flow.
Buildup of plaque in artery

4. Risk factors: Who is at risk of developing atherosclerosis?
People who…
Have unhealthy/high cholesterol levels
Have Diabetes
Have high blood pressure
Deal with the condition Insulin Resistance
Smoke
Are overweight
Never participate in any physical activity
Are at an older age
Have a family history of heart disease
These put you at a higher risk of having atherosclerosis, but do not mean that you automatically have the disease.

5. How to Prevent Atherosclerosis
To sum it all up, these following factors are causes to atherosclerosis and should be prevented:
Smoking
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Stress
Lack of fruits and vegetables
Excessive alcohol intake
Lack of exercise
Adopt healthy eating habits
Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, dairy products, seafood, etc.
Increase physical activity
Exercise helps prevents elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, elevated triglyceride concentrations, LDL/HDL concentrations, etc.
Avoid smoking
Smoking damages/tightens blood vessels and raises your risk for atherosclerosis.
Weight control
Create a meal plan to avoid obesity and reduce risk for atherosclerosis.

6. Is Atherosclerosis Reversible?
Atherosclerosis is reversible and can be prevented.
Lifestyle changes are a big step towards the cure of atherosclerosis. Avoid smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, lack of fruits/vegetables intake, stress, etc.
Medication for high cholesterol and blood pressure are also recommended to slow or halt the progression of atherosclerosis. It could also prevent risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Bypass surgery is also an option in which surgeons “harvest” a healthy blood vessel to bypass a segment blocked by atherosclerosis.
Angiography and stenting are common procedures. By using a thin tube that inserts into an artery in the leg or arm, enables the doctor to access diseased arteries. By doing so, blockages are visible on a live X-ray screen. Stenting often opens up a blocked artery and helps reduce symptoms.

7. Citations http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/what-is-atherosclerosis