You have probably heard of plaque on your teeth, but your body also has another type of plaque. This is plaque that builds up in arteries - the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrient-rich blood from your heart to your body’s tissues.

Plaque in the arteries is a fatty, waxy substance that forms deposits in the artery wall. These deposits can narrow the artery and reduce blood flow. This is called atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries.” Plaques can also rupture and create a blood clot at the rupture site, as your body’s natural processes try to repair the “injury.” The blood clot can cut off blood flow through the artery and starve your body’s tissues of oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, a ruptured plaque can be serious: It is the most common cause of a heart attack or stroke.

What Is Plaque Made Of?

Arterial plaque is made up of materials that enter the artery wall from the bloodstream. These include fat, cholesterol, calcium, waste products from cells and a clotting agent called fibrin. This is why your physician tests your cholesterol levels. High levels of “bad cholesterol” (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol) can indicate a higher risk of plaque build-up.

What Causes Plaque in Arteries?

Plaque build-up in arteries is, unfortunately, a natural part of living. Even children and adolescents have early evidence of the process.

However, diet and other lifestyle factors play an important role. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking can all worsen atherosclerosis. High blood pressure and the toxins in tobacco products damage the smooth inner lining of the artery, called the endothelium. These and other causes of inflammation of the artery lining contribute to cholesterol and other materials embedding in the artery wall to form plaques.

Additionally, some people are predisposed to having atherosclerosis. A genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia causes some people to have abnormally very high LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

Is All Plaque Dangerous?

Plaque builds up in arteries throughout the body, but not all plaques are equally dangerous. You might hear the term vulnerable plaque. This refers to a soft plaque that has a thin, fibrous cap. This plaque is more likely to rupture, causing a blood clot to form at the rupture site, cutting off or restricting blood flow, and potentially causing a heart attack or stroke

Can Plaque Build-Up in the Arteries Be Stopped?

Plaque formation in arteries can be slowed. It may also be possible to reverse some of the damage, but mostly, it’s a process of controlling further damage. Unlike going to the dentist and having plaque removed from your teeth, this is not so easily done in the blood vessels. But improvements can be made. Work with your physician to identify if you are at risk of, or already have, heart disease from atherosclerosis. This may require a physical exam with personal and family medical histories, lab tests and other diagnostic tests. You may be recommended to take medications to control high blood pressure and to lower cholesterol levels. Eating a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking and getting regular exercise will also help your arteries be their healthiest.

Learn More

You can learn more about the effects of plaque throughout the cardiovascular system by visiting our sections on coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease and kidney (renal) artery disease.