Fatty plaque builds up inside arteries over many years as cholesterol, inflammatory cells, and calcium accumulate along the vessel wall. This gradual narrowing reduces the space available for normal blood flow. As the passage tightens, red blood cells must squeeze through a smaller channel. This creates turbulence and slows circulation, limiting oxygen delivery to vital organs. The arterial wall itself becomes less flexible as plaque grows. Instead of expanding smoothly with each heartbeat, it s

Atherosclerotic plaque can develop within a coronary artery over many years without causing symptoms. Lipids, cholesterol particles, inflammatory cells, and connective tissue accumulate beneath the inner lining of the vessel. As this material grows, it progressively narrows the arterial lumen and disrupts normal blood flow, even while remaining clinically silent. At a critical moment, the fibrous surface covering the plaque may rupture. This exposes highly reactive substances inside the plaque t