Atherosclerosis is the deposition of cholesterol plaques in the artery walls. Over time the plaques narrow the vessel and worsen blood flow, and on rupture they can block it completely.
It is the basis of most heart attacks and strokes. The process goes on for decades and silently — which is why the risk factors you can measure and control matter so much: LDL, blood pressure, glucose.
Reference ranges
Atherosclerosis is a process, not a test. Its risk is assessed by factors:
| LDL ("bad" cholesterol) | the lower, the better |
| Blood pressure | target < 130/80 |
| Smoking | the main removable factor |
What an elevated level means
Atherosclerosis is accelerated by several well-studied factors:
Removable: high LDL, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high glucose, excess weight, inactivity, chronic inflammation.
Non-removable: age, male sex, heredity.
The danger is that for years it does not hurt, and then it shows up all at once as a catastrophe — a heart attack or stroke. So the risk factors are addressed in advance.
What a low level means
There is no such indicator as "low atherosclerosis" — the goal is to slow the process and keep risk factors within target values. The lower the LDL, blood pressure and glucose, and the more active the lifestyle, the more slowly atherosclerosis progresses.
How the test is done
Risk is assessed by factors: the lipid profile (especially LDL), blood pressure, glucose/HbA1c, smoking, age. By imaging — carotid artery ultrasound, the coronary calcium score.
Risk is vividly expressed through "vascular age" and cardiovascular risk — our calculators estimate these.
What affects the value
- LDL ("bad" cholesterol) — the key building material of plaques.
- Smoking — damages the vessel walls, a powerful accelerator.
- High blood pressure — injures the arteries.
- Glucose and diabetes — accelerate vascular damage.
- Movement and diet — slow the process and improve risk factors.
Calculate using this marker
Calculators where Atherosclerosis is used directly:
Frequently asked questions
Can atherosclerosis be reversed?
You cannot fully "dissolve" formed plaques, but the process can be slowed substantially and the plaques stabilized. Aggressive LDL lowering, control of blood pressure and glucose, quitting smoking and an active lifestyle are proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How do I know if I have atherosclerosis?
There is no single test. Risk is assessed by factors (LDL, blood pressure, glucose, smoking, age), and the presence of plaques by imaging (carotid ultrasound, coronary calcium). Vascular-age calculators show the risk vividly.
Where do I start with prevention?
With removable factors: do not smoke, keep LDL low, control blood pressure and glucose, move and watch your weight. These are the best-proven measures. You can assess your vessels' "age" in our calculators.