How Do Arteries Get Clogged?
Atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart disease, such as coronary heart disease, the most popular type of heart disease. Studies show that coronary heart disease accounts for more than 50% of heart disease in the United States.
Atherosclerosis is a severe inflammatory disease with many risk factors. The risk of developing atherosclerosis is high if you:
- Smoke cigarettes
- Have high LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Have high blood pressure
- Have obesity [6]
- Eat a poor diet
- Have a sedentary lifestyle
- Have a family history of atherosclerosis
- Have diabetes
However, studies show that sticking to a diet that contains lots of fruits, fish, and vegetables will help reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis.