Arterial sclerosis (a.k.a. atherosclerosis) is an extremely common condition which can cause coronary thrombosis, myocardial infarction and other serious conditions. However:
The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn't known. However, studies show that atherosclerosis is a slow, complex disease that may start in childhood. It develops faster as you age. Atherosclerosis may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. These factors include:
• Smoking • High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood • High blood pressure • High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes"
Source : US Govt. NIH
Other risk factors which are known to contribute to the onset of the disease include: