Meaning & use
arteriosclerosis
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedical
A condition in which the walls of the arteries become thick and stiff, making it harder for blood to flow.
Grammar: Not used with an or a plural: he suffers from arteriosclerosis.
Patterns
- suffer from arteriosclerosis
- a risk of arteriosclerosis
His doctor warned that smoking can lead to arteriosclerosis.
Arteriosclerosis becomes more common as people get older.
The scan showed signs of arteriosclerosis in her legs.
Common combinations
- develop arteriosclerosis
- People with high cholesterol may develop arteriosclerosis.
- suffer from arteriosclerosis
- My grandfather suffers from arteriosclerosis.
- cause arteriosclerosis
- Smoking can cause arteriosclerosis.
- risk of arteriosclerosis
- Exercise lowers the risk of arteriosclerosis.
- treat arteriosclerosis
- Doctors treat arteriosclerosis with medication and lifestyle changes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hardening of the arteries
- This is the plain-English phrase for the same condition, while arteriosclerosis is the term used by doctors.
- atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis is a narrower kind, caused by fatty deposits, while arteriosclerosis covers all hardening of the arteries.
Word family
Commonly confused: arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis?
arteriosclerosis vs atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a buildup of fatty plaque inside arteries, a specific form of arteriosclerosis.
Practice
The doctor said that ____ had narrowed the arteries in his legs.
Choose one answer.
Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of arteries. Arthritis affects joints, anemia affects blood count, and asthma affects the lungs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arteriosclerosis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.