Arteriosclerosis

• The accumulation of cholesterol plaque over time causes narrowing of the coronary arteries.
• Arteriosclerosis can be accelerated by smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes.
• When coronary arteries become narrowed by more than 50% to 70%, they can no longer meet the increased blood oxygen demand by the heart muscle during exercise or stress. Lack of oxygen to the heart muscle causes chest pain (angina).