What are atheroma and cardiovascular diseases?

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Patches of atheroma are like small fatty lumps that develop within the inside lining of arteries (blood vessels). Atheroma is also known as 'atherosclerosis' and 'hardening of the arteries'. Patches of atheroma are often called 'plaques' of atheroma.

Over months or years, patches of atheroma can become larger and thicker. So, in time, a patch of atheroma can make an artery narrower, which can reduce the blood flow through the artery. For example, narrowing of the coronary (heart) arteries with atheroma is the cause of angina.

Sometimes a blood clot (thrombosis) forms over a patch of atheroma, and completely blocks the blood flow. Depending on the artery affected, this can cause a heart attack, a stroke, or other serious problems.

Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart (cardiac muscle) or blood vessels (vasculature). However, in practice, when doctors use the term 'cardiovascular disease' they usually mean diseases of the heart or blood vessels that are caused by atheroma.

In summary, cardiovascular diseases that can be caused by atheroma include: angina, heart attack, stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and peripheral vascular disease. In the UK, cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of poor health and the biggest cause of death.

What factors affect the level of blood cholesterol?

In most people, your cholesterol level reflects the amount of fat that you eat. This is not the full story as different people who eat the same amount of fat can make different amounts of cholesterol. However, in general, if you eat less fat your cholesterol level is likely to go down.

In some people a high cholesterol level is due to another condition. For example, an underactive thyroid gland, obesity, drinking a lot of alcohol, and some rare kidney and liver disorders can raise the cholesterol level.

In some people a very high level of cholesterol runs in the family due to an inherited genetic problem with the way cholesterol is made. One example is called familial hypercholesterolaemia.