In the United States, over 600,000 individuals die annually from heart disease. Atherosclerosis contributes to many of these deaths.
Atherosclerosis occurs when excessive plaque, made primarily of cholesterol and fat, builds up in the heart’s arteries, which causes the artery to thicken or become rigid. Blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, must flow through arteries, which cannot happen when plaque accumulates. Atherosclerosis is a significant health predicament.