Atherosclerosis: The Silent Buildup Narrowing Your Arteries—Warning Signs to Watch For

Often called a “silent” disease, atherosclerosis can progress for years without symptoms–until it leads to heart attack, stroke, or other serious complications.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside the arteries, causing them to narrow and harden.

This process can affect arteries throughout the body, including those supplying blood to the heart, brain, kidneys, and limbs. Diseases caused by atherosclerosis account for roughly half of all deaths in Western countries.