Final answer:
Arteriosclerosis can cause a deficiency in blood flow due to the buildup of plaque, which narrows the arteries and reduces the oxygen supply to the tissues, potentially leading to myocardial infarction or other cardiovascular diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
When arteriosclerosis causes a deficiency in blood flow, it typically begins with damage to the endothelium of an artery due to factors like high blood glucose, infection, tobacco use, excessive blood lipids, and more. The artery walls, under constant pressure, can become injured leading to hypertension that both promotes and results from arteriosclerosis.
Over time, arteriosclerosis can lead to atherosclerosis, which is when artery walls become inflamed and plaque accumulates. This plaque is composed of cell pieces, fatty substances, calcium, and connective tissue, leading to narrowed arteries and decreased blood flow, known as ischemia. Insufficient oxygen, or hypoxia, to the cardiac tissues can result, and if left untreated, this may cause myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack.
As the arteries become more rigid, the condition is often described as the hardening of the arteries. Major risk factors include advanced age, obesity, diabetes, high-fat diets, and smoking. This condition can also cause other cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and peripheral artery disease.