Understanding Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, or "athero" as we call it, is the progressive buildup of plaque in the arteries over time. One major cause is high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which play a role in the formation of plaque buildup.

For many of us, this plaque starts building up in our arteries in early adulthood and gets worse over time.

While LDL cholesterol is a major health factor, here are a few other factors that can contribute to the progression of athero.

• Family history of early heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Overweight/obesity

Should You Be Concerned?

If you have high cholesterol, athero may be something you should be concerned about.

Find out if you have health factors that can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. Talk with your doctor about it and ask if CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) is right for you.