Atherosclerosis overview

In atherosclerosis, different symptoms will result depending on the location of an artery, the degree of blockage, and whether the blockage occurs suddenly or gradually. If the interior of an artery is narrowed by less than 70% there are usually no symptoms. An early symptoms of atherosclerosis may be pain or cramps when blood flow cannot meet the tissues need for oxygen. For instance, during exercise a person may feel chest pain because the oxygen supply to the heart is inadequate. Symptoms of a sudden and complete arterial blockage are more serious. When tissues do not receive enough blood from a supplying artery the formation of blood clots is triggered. A blood clot that grows large enough will obstruct the artery. If a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream it will cause a blockage elsewhere in the body. Heart attacks and strokes result from a blockage in arteries that supply the heart or the brain. Blockage of an artery that supplies the leg can result in gangrene of the foot, toe, or the leg itself.

Review Date:2/27/2024
Reviewed By:Thomas S. Metkus, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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