Atherosclerosis:Aprocessofprogressivethickening and hardening of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries as a result offatdeposits on their inner lining.
Risk factors foratherosclerosisinclude high levels of "bad" cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, diabetes and ageneticfamily historyofatheroscleroticdisease.
Atherosclerosis is responsible for much coronary artery disease (angina and heart attacks) and many strokes.
