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Heart Disease and Atherosclerosis

1. What Is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis, often described as a hardening of the arteries, occurs when the normal lining of the arteries deteriorates, the walls of arteries thicken, and deposits of fat and plaque build up, causing narrowing (or even blockage) of the arteries.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Robert J Bryg, MD on March 07, 2009
© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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