Blocked or clogged arteries usually occur when plaque builds up on the artery walls and significantly reduces normal blood flow. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for plaque buildup. However, other factors also contribute to the process, and you could develop blocked arteries even if you have low cholesterol levels.
Why do arteries get blocked?
All plaque contains some cholesterol, as well as fat, calcium, and other materials in the blood. When plaque builds up on artery walls, it triggers an artery-hardening process called atherosclerosis In turn, the reduced blood flow associated with atherosclerosis can lead to a serious medical condition called coronary heart disease, which is characterized by reductions in the amount of oxygen received by the heart muscle.
Partially blocked arteries can become completely blocked when an area of plaque opens up, triggering a blood clot to form in a narrow ductus arteriosus. Partial and complete blockages in a coronary artery can lead to the development of a heart attack.
What are the main risks?
Anything that damages the inner layers of the coronary arteries can lead to plaque buildup, artery blockage and heart disease, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In addition to high cholesterol levels, the main known risk factors for this type of damage include high blood pressure, abnormal resistance to the effects of a hormone called insulin, lack of exercise or physical activity, diabetes, smoking, advanced age, being overweight or obese, and eating an unhealthy diet.
Another major risk factor, called metabolic syndrome, arises when you simultaneously have several other risks for heart disease. Some people also have a genetic predisposition to CHD that creates a higher risk, apart from any additional factors. In general, men tend to have higher risks of heart disease than women.
Certain other factors can also increase your risks for coronary heart disease. For example, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, the presence of a condition called Sleep apnea, high blood levels of a fatty substance called triglycerides and the presence of a pregnancy-related condition called preeclampsia. You may also be at increased risk of coronary artery atherosclerosis if you have a history of artery-related problems, such as a aortic aneurysm or stroke.
Is there treatment or prevention?
If you have non-cholesterol risks for blocked arteries and heart disease, your doctor may recommend a variety of medications to lower your blood pressure, relax your arteries, improve blood flow to your heart, or reduce the workload on your heart. Possible options to achieve one or more of these outcomes include beta-blockers, inhibitors of the ACE, aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, nitroglycerin, or other nitrates.
If you have cholesterol-related risks, your doctor may prescribe a medication from a class of medications called statins. However, consult your doctor to learn more about your risks for blocked arteries and coronary heart disease.