How does arteriosclerosis develop?
The tear of the inner wall of the artery is considered by the body to be a place to be sealed as quickly as possible. For this reason, thrombocytes adhere there (natural sealing process of open vessels). Collagen, fatty substances and so-called proteoglycans also attach themselves to the tear.
All substances lead to the site at the tear closing. However, the closure is by no means smooth and thus does not correspond to the natural inner layer of the arteries, which the blood passes without turbulence. The newly formed, rough sealed area causes the passing blood flow to be swirled and slowed down, and further blood platelets and the smallest blood components are deposited there.
A plaque is formed which is getting bigger and bigger. As a result, the diameter of the artery becomes increasingly narrow and the elasticity of the arterial wall decreases. The artery scleroses (“calcifies”) and less blood can flow past this point.
As a result, the supply to the adjacent organs is reduced until the vessel closes completely (thrombosis). If this affects the coronary vessels, a heart attack occurs. Find out more below:
- Thrombosis
- Heart attack
