- Abnormal accumulation of lipid or fatty substance and fibrous tissue in the vessel wall
- Reduced blood flow to the myocardium
- Causes repetitious inflammatory response to artery wall injury
- Progressive inadequate blood flow deprives the muscle cell of oxygen
A. Risk Factors
- Non-modifiable
- Hereditary
- Age (over 40 years old)
- Race
- higher in African – American than whites
- more in non-Hispanic whites
- Sex
- 3x in men than premenopausal women,
- more in postmenopausal women
- more in early menopause than late
- more in women who take contraceptive pills
- more in smoking
