Final answer:
Atherosclerosis is the degenerative process that commonly causes narrowing of the vessels and coronary artery disease. It is characterized by the gradual buildup of plaque within the walls of the arteries, which obstructs blood flow and decreases vessel flexibility. Risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol contribute to its development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degenerative process that commonly causes narrowing of the vessels and coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque, a fatty material consisting of cholesterol, connective tissue, white blood cells, and smooth muscle cells, within the walls of the arteries. This plaque buildup obstructs the flow of blood and decreases the flexibility of the vessels, leading to narrowing and potential blockages.
Several risk factors contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, including smoking, family history, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, high alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, stress, and high circulating levels of lipids in the blood. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can result in coronary artery disease, which can lead to angina (chest pain) or myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Treatment options for coronary artery disease may include medication, lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, angioplasty with a balloon catheter, stent insertion, or coronary bypass procedure.