@doctor.asky: Hidden cholesterol damage slowly turns flexible arteries into rigid narrowed pathways. Atherosclerosis starts when LDL cholesterol slips from the bloodstream into the inner lining of an artery through tiny gaps created by ongoing stress, such as high blood pressure or inflammation. Once lodged beneath the surface, LDL becomes chemically altered. The immune system treats this altered cholesterol as a threat and mounts a local inflammatory response. Monocytes move into the vessel wall and transform into macrophages that engulf the altered LDL. As they fill with fat, these cells become foam cells, forming fatty streaks that thicken the artery from the inside. Smooth muscle cells then migrate into this area and lay down fibrous tissue and calcium, turning the soft streak into a hardened plaque with a rigid outer cap. As the plaque grows, it pushes inward and narrows the vessel lumen. Blood is forced through a smaller channel, increasing resistance and reducing oxygen delivery downstream. At the same time, the artery becomes stiff and loses its ability to expand with each heartbeat, further restricting blood flow when the body needs it most.

Doctor ASKY

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Sunday 15 March 2026 01:25:00 GMT