What Is Arteriosclerosis? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Short answer: Arteriosclerosis is the narrowing and loss of flexibility of the arteries caused by the buildup of plaques made of fat, cholesterol, and calcium on the inner artery wall. It progresses for years with no symptoms at all; its first sign can sometimes be a heart attack or stroke itself. Treatment is built on lifestyle changes, controlling risk factors, and medication prescribed by a physician.

Arteriosclerosis is the silent process that underlies the diseases responsible for the most deaths in Turkey and around the world. Heart attacks, strokes, and blockages in the leg vessels most often share the very same mechanism.

Its most insidious feature is this: it progresses for years without causing a single complaint. This buildup, which can start in childhood, gives no sign of itself until the vessel narrows past a certain point. That’s why many people first learn they have the disease at the moment of a heart attack.

The good news is: arteriosclerosis is, to a large extent, a preventable condition, and its progression can be slowed. In this article we explain in plain language how it develops, which symptoms should be taken seriously, treatment approaches accepted in the medical community, and diet and lifestyle recommendations.

What is arteriosclerosis?

Arteries are the vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to every part of the body. The inner surface of a healthy artery is extremely smooth and flexible; it expands and contracts slightly with every heartbeat.

In arteriosclerosis, this inner surface becomes damaged. Cholesterol and fat molecules from the blood seep into the damaged area, immune cells gather there, and over time a buildup called plaque forms. As the plaque thickens:

• The inner diameter of the vessel narrows
• The vessel loses its flexibility and stiffens
• Blood flow to the organ that vessel supplies decreases

In medical terms, this condition is called atherosclerosis.

The real danger: the plaque rupturing

The gradual narrowing of a vessel is a problem in itself, but the truly sudden and life-threatening danger is something else: the surface of the plaque rupturing.

When a plaque ruptures, the body mistakes it for a wound and forms a clot there. That clot can completely block the vessel within seconds. The result:

• If it happens in a heart vessel → heart attack
• If it happens in a brain vessel → stroke

This is exactly why saying “my vessel is 40% narrowed, so it’s not a problem” can be misleading. A small but fragile plaque can be more dangerous than a large but stable one.

It can affect the entire body

Arteriosclerosis is not localized — it’s a systemic disease. If it’s present in one vessel, it exists to some degree in the others as well. Different clinical pictures emerge depending on which area is affected:

Affected vessel	Resulting condition
Heart vessels	Chest pain, heart attack, heart failure
Brain and carotid artery	Stroke, transient ischemic attack
Leg vessels	Cramping in the leg while walking, wounds that won’t heal
Kidney vessels	High blood pressure, loss of kidney function

What causes arteriosclerosis?

The process begins with damage to the inner surface of the vessel. The main factors that cause this damage:

What are the symptoms of arteriosclerosis?

The most important thing to know: it causes no symptoms for many years. Symptoms usually appear only after a vessel has narrowed significantly, and they vary depending on which area is affected.

How is arteriosclerosis diagnosed? Which department should you see?

The department you should see: Cardiology. If leg vessels are involved, Cardiovascular Surgery is also brought into the evaluation.

Tests that may be performed:

• Physical examination: Blood pressure measurement, checking pulses, listening to the vessels with a stethoscope (a narrowed vessel may produce a bruit sound).
• Blood tests: Cholesterol (LDL, HDL, triglycerides), fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and kidney function.
• ECG: A recording of the heart’s electrical activity. Simple, painless, and quick.
• Stress test: If complaints appear with exertion, an ECG test performed on a treadmill.
• Echocardiography: Ultrasound imaging of the heart.
• Doppler ultrasound: Measures flow speed and degree of narrowing in the carotid, leg, and kidney vessels.
• Coronary CT angiography and calcium score: A non-invasive assessment of the plaque burden in the vessels.
• Coronary angiography: The method used for a definitive diagnosis. A thin catheter delivers contrast dye into the vessel to obtain an X-ray image.

Do you need a checkup even without symptoms?

Yes — and given the silent course of the disease, this is a critical point. If any of the following applies to you, you should get regular checkups without waiting for symptoms:

• Being over 40
• A family history of early-age heart attack or stroke
• Smoking
• A diagnosis of high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle

How is arteriosclerosis treated?

Treatment has two goals: stopping or slowing the progression of the disease, and restoring blood flow through a narrowed vessel.

Lifestyle change — the foundation of treatment

This isn’t an alternative that replaces medication — it’s the most important part of treatment. Five key areas:

• Quitting smoking — the single biggest gain on its own. Risk starts dropping within months of quitting.
• Adjusting your diet — covered in detail below
• Regular physical activity — at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week
• Weight management
• Sleep and stress management

2. Controlling risk factors with medication

Keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar within target ranges slows the progression of arteriosclerosis. These treatments are planned by a physician based on the person’s overall cardiovascular risk. This article does not provide drug names or dosages.

There’s a critical point worth emphasizing, though: these medications should never be stopped without consulting your doctor. The approach of “my numbers improved, so I’ll stop taking it now” is one of the most common and most dangerous mistakes — the numbers improved precisely because of the medication.

3. Interventional treatments

If there is significant narrowing or blockage in a vessel:

• Balloon angioplasty and stenting: A thin catheter is advanced through the groin or wrist, and the narrowed area is widened with a balloon; a small metal mesh called a stent is then placed to keep the vessel from narrowing again. Patients are usually discharged within a short time.
• Bypass surgery: If there’s advanced narrowing in multiple vessels, a new blood pathway is created beyond the blocked area.

Which method is appropriate depends on the location, degree, and number of narrowings, along with the patient’s overall condition.

Important: A stent or bypass does not “cure” arteriosclerosis. It reopens the blocked area, but the disease continues systemically elsewhere. That’s why lifestyle changes and medication must continue for life even after the procedure.

⚠️ EMERGENCY: Call your local emergency number immediately if you notice these symptoms

The most dangerous consequences of arteriosclerosis develop suddenly, and in these situations minutes save lives.

Heart attack symptoms:

• Pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest lasting more than 20 minutes
• Pain radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back
• Cold sweat, nausea, shortness of breath, a sense of impending doom
• In women, people with diabetes, and older adults, symptoms can be subtler: they may show up only as shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, or discomfort in the stomach area

Stroke symptoms — the FAST rule:

• F (Face): Is one side of the face drooping? Ask them to smile.
• A (Arm): When they raise both arms, does one drift down?
• S (Speech): Is their speech slurred, or are they struggling to find words?
• T (Time): If any of these are present, call emergency services immediately.

Even if the symptoms are brief and pass on their own (a transient ischemic attack), you should still go to the hospital — this can be a warning sign of an impending stroke.

Don’t try to drive yourself to the hospital; treatment begins on the way in an ambulance.

What should you watch out for during treatment?

Take your medications regularly, and don’t stop them on your own. This is the most critical point in the whole process.

Track your numbers. Learn your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar targets from your doctor and have them checked regularly. If you measure your blood pressure at home, write the readings down.

Don’t skip your checkups. Feeling fine doesn’t mean the disease has stopped.

Ask your doctor about your exercise program. Especially if you’ve been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, how much and how intensely you can exercise is different for each person.

Avoid extreme cold and extreme heat. Both put strain on the vessels. In cold weather, avoid sudden, heavy exertion (like shoveling snow).

Don’t exercise right after a heavy meal.

Don’t neglect your dental health. The link between chronic gum inflammation and vascular health is a topic that receives ongoing attention.

Diet, herbal supplements, and lifestyle: what can help?

In arteriosclerosis, unlike many other conditions, diet is a direct part of treatment — not just a supportive measure.

Foods that may help

• Olive oil — a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Vessel-friendly when used in moderation.
• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovy, sardine) — rich in omega-3s. Two servings a week is a good target.
• Oat and barley bran — the soluble fiber they contain helps reduce cholesterol absorption in the gut.
• Dried legumes (chickpeas, lentils, dried beans) — a source of fiber and plant protein.
• Unprocessed nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts) — a handful a day, unsalted and unroasted.
• Vegetables and fruit — at least 5 servings a day. Color variety matters.
• Garlic and onion — regular use in cooking is reported to contribute to vascular health.
• Whole grains — whole wheat, bulgur, and brown rice instead of white flour.

What to limit or avoid

• Trans fats — margarine, packaged pastries, frying oils. This is the most harmful group for vascular health.
• Excess salt — try not to exceed 5 grams a day (about one teaspoon). Not keeping a salt shaker on the table is a simple but effective step.
• Sugary drinks and processed sugar
• Processed meat products — salami, sucuk, sausages
• Excess alcohol

An honest note on herbal supplements

Products like garlic capsules, turmeric, green tea, flaxseed, resveratrol, and ginkgo biloba are frequently recommended for vascular health. Some may offer a benefit, but particular caution is warranted here:

• None of them replace medication. The approach of “I’m taking herbal supplements, so I stopped my blood pressure medicine” carries a life-threatening risk.
• Many of these products interact seriously with blood-thinning medications and can increase bleeding risk. Garlic supplements, ginkgo biloba, and high-dose turmeric are at the top of this list.
• If you take heart medication, blood pressure medication, or a blood thinner, never start any herbal product without asking your doctor first.

What works best in the long run

Regular physical activity and a smoke-free life. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (roughly 30 minutes of brisk walking a day) improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar all at once. No other single habit delivers as much benefit for arteriosclerosis.

Frequently asked questions about arteriosclerosis

Videos you can watch on this topic

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Medical disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only; it does not replace examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician about your symptoms. Do not stop or change any medication you are taking without consulting your doctor.