- Atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaque in the arteries — is considered to be the cause of about 50% of all deaths in Western society.
- Researchers from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Italy have found the presence of microplastics within arterial plaques.
- Scientists reported that people with microplastics in their arterial plaque were 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die in about 34 months after their carotid endarterectomy surgery than those who did not have plastics in their plaque.
Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular condition that occurs when the insides of the arteries of the body become clogged with a buildup of cholesterol and fats known as plaque.
Researchers estimate that about
People who have atherosclerosis are at a higher risk for
Now researchers from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Italy have found another potential issue with arterial plaques — the presence of
In a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, scientists report that about 60% of study participants who had received a carotid endarterectomy had measurable amounts of
As many as 12% also had
Researchers also discovered that people with microplastics in their arterial plaque were 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die in about 34 months after their surgery than those who did not have plastics in their plaque.
Small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters (mm) long are considered microplastics.
“Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are either intentionally manufactured — like microbeads and glitter — or formed…
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