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Stage III
To understand what may happen next, visualize a rushing mountain stream. As it flows, it knocks aside rocks, plants, and other debris in its way, sending that debris downstream. The same thing can happen in your blood vessels. As the blood flows, it can "rip" the cap off the plaque, letting the pus out just as if you ripped the scab off a wound. The larger the plaque, the more likely it is to rupture. Also, the type of LDL that makes up the plaque could play a role in how easily it bursts; recent research shows that very small, dense LDL particles make these plaques more fragile.Once a plaque bursts, blood platelets begin sticking to the exposed surface of the ruptured plaque, eventually blocking flow through the vessel altogether and triggering a heart attack or stroke (or, if these blockages occur in the arteries leading to your legs, peripheral artery disease).
Unfortunately, there may not be any warning signs of heart disease before a heart attack occurs, especially in women. Some people experience angina, but others only learn they have a problem when they find themselves in the hospital, hooked up to machines, and a nurse leaning over them telling them about the heart attack they just suffered. That's why it's so important to identify your risk factors, such as high cholesterol, and do what you can to tilt the odds in your favor.
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