Arterial Plaque: What It Is, How It Forms, and What You Can Do

When you hear arterial plaque, a waxy substance that builds up inside arteries and restricts blood flow. Also known as atherosclerosis, it's not just a aging issue—it's a silent process that starts decades before symptoms appear. This buildup isn't just fat. It's a mix of cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste, and fibrin that sticks to artery walls, slowly narrowing them over time. Your arteries aren't pipes, but living tissues, and when they get damaged—by high blood pressure, smoking, or too much sugar—the body tries to repair them by sending in cholesterol. That’s where plaque begins.

Not all plaque is the same. Some is soft and unstable, prone to plaque rupture, a sudden tear that triggers blood clots and can cause heart attacks or strokes. Other types harden over time, stiffening arteries and raising blood pressure. The real danger isn’t just blockage—it’s unpredictability. A 50% blockage might cause no symptoms, but a sudden rupture in a smaller artery can be deadly. That’s why doctors look beyond just how much plaque you have—they assess its type, location, and your overall risk factors like diabetes, high LDL, or family history.

What you eat, how much you move, and whether you smoke all directly affect how fast plaque grows. Studies show that even small improvements—like swapping processed snacks for nuts, walking 30 minutes a day, or quitting cigarettes—can slow or even reverse buildup. Medications like statins don’t just lower cholesterol; they stabilize existing plaque, making it less likely to rupture. But no pill replaces consistent habits. The posts below cover real-world strategies: how certain drugs interact with plaque development, what supplements might help or hurt, how inflammation plays a role, and how conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes speed things up. You’ll find clear comparisons of treatments, practical advice on monitoring your risk, and what to ask your doctor if you’re worried about your arteries.