Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, occurs from a buildup of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and platelets on the inner walls of the arteries. The buildup of substances restricts blood flow to the organs. The exact cause of hardened arteries remains unknown, but damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery from certain factors may contribute to its development.
High Cholesterol
According to the American Heart Association, hardening of the arteries occurs because the innermost layer of the artery becomes damaged from high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. The damage that high cholesterol and triglycerides put on the inner wall of an artery causes blood cells known as platelets to clump at the injury site in efforts to repair the artery. Inflammation occurs inside the artery while the platelets try to repair it. Fatty deposits or plaques made of cholesterol and other cellular waste products accumulate at the injury site. Over time, they harden and cause the arteries to narrow. The organs and tissues connected to the hardened and narrowed arteries don't receive enough blood to function properly, reports MayoClinic.com.
Smoking
The American Heart Association indicates a strong correlation between smoking and the development of hardened arteries. Hardening of the arteries typically starts in childhood, and the disease progresses slowly. Atherosclerosis normally occurs when people grow older, though smoking accelerates the growth of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the aorta and the arteries of the legs. MayoClinic.com reports that nicotine and the harmful irritants found inside the cigarettes may cause damage to the inner part of the artery, thus resulting in a hardening or narrowing of the artery.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure refers to the force or pressure of blood inside the arteries when the heart beats, notes the Cleveland Clinic. High blood pressure refers to a higher-than-normal pressure of blood inside the arteries. High blood pressure puts added force against the arterial walls, and the extra pressure can damage the arteries over time. A narrowing and hardening of the arteries occurs as a result of the damage. Small blood clots can develop on the hardened surface of the artery, and the blood clot inside the narrowed artery limits or blocks the flow of blood to the organs.
