Atherosclerosis is a disease of the body's arteries. When plaques of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances build up in our arteries, which carry oxygenated blood to the heart and other parts of the body, pathways to vital organs become narrow or blocked – this is called atherosclerosis. Just as plaque buildup on our teeth can lead to gingivitis, a gum disease, plaque buildup in our arteries can lead to atherosclerosis, but with our teeth we can usually see if there is a buildup of plaque simply by looking in the mirror. However, we cannot see the inside of our arteries without the help of specialized imaging devices; so we usually need to monitor our arterial health based on our blood pressure measurements and lab results. Because we cannot easily see our arteries and our vital signs are not measured daily, it is important to do everything we can to prevent the disease, atherosclerosis. Although there is a small risk of an individual developing atherosclerosis due to their genes, many risk factors for the disease are controllable, including: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a pattern of sedentary lifestyle, obesity and diabetes control. Atherosclerosis is also known. as “hardening of the arteries” and can lead to many complications, including: coronary heart disease, abnormal heart rhythm, chest pain, heart attack, peripheral artery disease, kidney failure, stroke or aneurysm. What we can do to prevent atherosclerosis is to eat a healthy diet and create lifelong healthy eating habits. Diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol create more plaque, which increases the chance of it building up in your body's artery walls. Animal products...... middle of paper ......rt attack. Since the symptoms of atherosclerosis only appear after the damage has already been done, it is important to make healthy lifestyle changes while feeling healthy. A healthy diet is a great way to reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis; Other things you can do to reduce the risk of developing this condition are: quitting smoking, exercising regularly, reducing stress in your life, seeing your primary care provider for regular checkups and, if you have diabetes, keep it under control. Some people also believe that acupuncture is helpful in preventing atherosclerosis and may help reduce certain risk factors. Most importantly, a nutritious diet can help prevent arterial disease, atherosclerosis, by decreasing high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess weight – three of the main risk factors for developing atherosclerosis...