Why arteries get clogged

Your symptoms depend on where the blockage occurs and what part of your body receives a reduced blood supply. Symptoms of blocked or clogged arteries can include:.

In some cases, a clogged artery can cause serious symptoms and require emergency care. This primarily applies when the clogged artery is one that is supplying blood to a vital organ like the brain or heart.

Symptoms that can signal a medical emergency include:. Call or seek emergency medical care immediately if you or someone you are with has any of these symptoms.

Clogged arteries are caused by a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Plaque is usually made up of a few substances, including minerals like calcium, or fats and cholesterol.

High cholesterol levels can lead to this buildup of plaques. In some cases, high cholesterol is genetic, but it is mostly linked to diet and lifestyle choices. A diet that is high in fats and cholesterol is just one of the things that can contribute to a buildup of plaques and clogged arteries.

Other risk factors for clogged arteries can include:. Diagnosing arterial problems may begin with your primary care doctor, but if a blockage is suspected, you will most likely be referred to a cardiologist or vascular specialist. Who you see depends a lot on where the blockage is and what problems it is causing. For example, if you have a blockage in an artery that feeds your brain, you may also need to see a neurologist.

Your diagnosis will begin with a physical exam, as well as a review of your personal and family medical history. Additional testing may be done to pinpoint the location and degree of the blockage.

Testing can include:. These tests can be used to measure the amount of fats and cholesterol in your blood, how much resistance your heart faces when pumping blood blood pressure , how well oxygen-rich blood is reaching certain parts of the body, and the degree of damage to areas of the body where there is a clogged artery.

Treating clogged arteries should be done with a holistic approach. Your doctor will first address the problems that led to the clogged artery.

Lifestyle changes are key, and may include:. Medications may be used to help you manage conditions that can cause clogged arteries, including:. You may also be prescribed medications like anticoagulants or antiplatelets to help prevent complications of clogged arteries.

If the blockage is more severe, a surgeon may need to help clear the artery mechanically. This can be done in several ways, usually with a minimally invasive technique that involves a catheter fed into the vessel. Some techniques to clear a clogged artery include:. In more severe cases, you may have to undergo bypass surgery, where a piece of a vessel is taken from one part of the body and transplanted to replace the damaged or blocked area.

The most concerning complications of clogged arteries are heart attack and stroke. A heart attack can occur when there is blockage in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. When a blockage affects the brain, this is called an ischemic stroke. This type of stroke can be treated effectively with strong blood thinners.

If you suffer from any of these, contact your physician immediately. If you believe you may be suffering from atherosclerosis or have any of the associated health concerns, contact Cardiovascular Institute of the South , and request an appointment with any one of our highly-skilled cardiologists today.

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In severe cases, the tissue dies this is called gangrene and amputation may be needed. Sometimes leg cramps develop when a person walks, and the leg pain usually gets worse with increased activity. This cramping is called intermittent claudication.

Like the chest pain of angina , the leg pain of intermittent claudication usually goes away with rest. Cold temperatures and some medicines may also cause leg pain. The deposits may narrow — or block — your arteries. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot to form. Coronary artery disease is thought to begin with damage or injury to the inner layer of a coronary artery, sometimes as early as childhood. The damage may be caused by various factors, including:.

Once the inner wall of an artery is damaged, fatty deposits plaque made of cholesterol and other cellular waste products tend to collect at the site of injury. This process is called atherosclerosis. If the plaque surface breaks or ruptures, blood cells called platelets clump together at the site to try to repair the artery.

This clump can block the artery, leading to a heart attack. Risk factors often occur together and one may trigger another. For instance, obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. When grouped together, certain risk factors make you even more likely to develop coronary artery disease.

For example, metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes high blood pressure; high triglycerides; low HDL , or "good," cholesterol; high insulin levels and excess body fat around the waist — increases the risk of coronary artery disease. Sometimes coronary artery disease develops without any classic risk factors.

Researchers are studying other possible risk factors, including:. The same lifestyle habits used to help treat coronary artery disease can also help prevent it. A healthy lifestyle can help keep your arteries strong and clear of plaque. To improve your heart health, follow these tips:.

Coronary artery disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Coronary artery disease develops when the major blood vessels that supply your heart become damaged or diseased. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Development of atherosclerosis Open pop-up dialog box Close.