Atherosclerosis

Dr David Leake introduces atherosclerosis, a condition that can be described as the “furring” up of the arteries like limescale in pipes, which can lead to ischaemia – a shortness of blood supply to the body’s tissues.

Atherosclerotic arteries usually contain a lot of cholesterol, a risk factor we will learn more about in Week 4. We will look at different types of lesions and how they develop, from fatty streaks during puberty, to atheromas and finally how they can rupture to trigger clot formation.

You can download the Week 2 supplement, which contains additional images and descriptions to help you understand the topics covered in this video.

Were you aware of the causes of atherosclerosis? Share your thoughts below.