What is atherosclerosis how do we get it and what are the risk factors ?

[Oindrila]

Hello, What is atherosclerosis, how do we get it and what are the risk factors ? Please help me with this information. I need to understand this problem as one of my family members is suffering.

[Abhiroop]

@oindrila Athersosclerosis is Intimal proliferation of smooth muscle cells and lipid deposition. It forms a lesion known as a plaque which can cause vessel luminal stenosis. Plaque can also rupture causing localised thrombus formation and vessel occlusion. The risk factors are:
Age - commoner with increasing age
Men > Women especially pre menopausal.
Serum cholesterol LDL-C is bad HDL-C is good
Smoking - endothelial damage ? carbon monoxide
Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus
Family history, Oral contraceptive
Obesity, Gout, Type A personality
Diagonal ear crease, Corneal arcus
Hyper homocystinaemia,
Hypertriglyceridaemia,
High fibrinogen levels