Plaque and Poverty

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposition of plaque in the form of fatty substances such as cholesterol in the innermost layer of the arterial wall. This plaque deposition causes the arteries to narrow, constricting blood flow. Significant narrowing can either diminish or stop blood flow to the heart, causing angina, myocardial infarction, dyspnea, among other conditions.


Risk factors for atherosclerosis include diabetes, heavy alcohol use, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, high-fat diet, increasing age, obesity, personal or family history of heart disease, and smoking (PubMed Health, 2011). These risk factors predominantly concern diet, exercise, and lifestyle. These components are continually emphasized as integral to health maintenance and management and are such influential contributor’s to an individual’s health. Berg et. al. (2005) specify obesity as a risk factor for systemic inflammation which cause atherosclerosis whereas weight loss decreases systemic inflammation and reduces the risk. This makes evident that the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis, even ones as complicated as obesity, can be modified and eliminated through modification of diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

This emphasis on diet, exercise, and lifestyle can oftentimes be seen as a privilege for those who are of a certain socio-economic strata. Packard et. al.(2011) sought to assess socio-economic adversity as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. While their research concluded that chronic inflammation was a correlating factor influenced by the father’s occupation and childhood home conditions, it encouraged that efforts should be made to reduce the “health divide” and public health should be invested in determining that these health disparities diminish. Utilizing their data for specific socio-economic risk factors may enhance health care workers’ ability to address early onset of such diseases and promote health lifestyle more effectively.


Berg, A., Scherer, P. (2005) Adipose Tissue, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Diseases Circulation Research, 96, 939-949. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000163635.62927.34

Packard CJ, Bezlyak V, McLean JS, Batty GD, Ford I, Burns H, Cavanagh J, Deans KA, Henderson M, McGinty A, Millar K, Sattar N, Shiels PG, Velupillai YN, Tannahill C. (January 2011) Early life socioeconomic adversity is associated in adult life with chronic inflammation, carotid atherosclerosis, poorer lung function and decreased cognitive performance: a cross-sectional, population-based study.BMC Public Health, 11, 42.

PubMed Health (2011) Diseases and Conditions: Atherosclerosis. Accessed on March 9, 2011 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001224/