noun
- a disease in which fatty deposits build up inside blood vessel walls, narrowing the vessels and restricting blood flow
Usage: medical/health term; uncountable noun
Examples
- Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke in developed countries.
- High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
- Regular exercise and a healthy diet help prevent atherosclerosis.
- Doctors use imaging tests to detect atherosclerosis in patients with chest pain.
- Smoking accelerates the development of atherosclerosis in the arteries.
- Atherosclerosis often develops silently over many years without symptoms.