Atherosclerosis or ‘hardening of the arteries’ develops gradually over many years; fatty deposits or plaques (atheroma) thicken the artery lining and eventually impair blood flow, thus starving tissues of oxygen and nutrients.

Atheroma is the pathology that underlies cardiovascular disease (CVD), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). See also entries for above conditions [insert link]