Atherosclerosis - The fatal plug in your arteries

Dateline: 07/06/97

What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis ?

No one is quite sure why exactly some people develop atheromas at a very young age and others don't. There are some well defined risk factors that predispose to atheroma.

Some of these factors are "permanent" - that is, they cannot be modified. These permanent or non-modifiable risk factors are:

• age
• gender
• genetics

Anyone is at a higher risk for atherosclerosis as age advances. Males are at a significantly higher risk than women for a variety of reasons. Similarly, those whose family members suffer from atherosclerotic complications are more likely to become victims of atherosclerosis than others who have no such genetic predisposition..

In addition, there are some factors that can be modified by lifestyle changes. These are:

• smoking
• high blood pressure or hypertension
• high cholesterol
• sedentary lifestyle
• high stress
• overweight and obesity

Cigarette smoking, and other forms of tobacco consumption has been incriminated in atheroma formation, as has diabetes and uncontrolled high blood pressure. High serum cholesterol levels can predispose to fat deposition in plaques.

Some "weak factors" that are less closely associated with atherosclerosis include lack of exercise, stress, obesity and a high carbohydrate diet.

Read more about atherosclerosis:

• How is an atheroma formed ?
• Why is an atheromatous plaque dangerous ?