Atherosclerosis is a common condition that develops when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside your arteries . Disease linked to atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Atherosclerosis develops slowly as cholesterol, fat, blood cells and other substances in your blood form plaque. When the plaque builds up, it causes your arteries to narrow. This reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to tissues of vital organs in the body.