although the coronary arteries are wide open at birth the atherosclerosis process begins early in life. between the ages of 10 and 20 "fatty streaks" are already being deposited on the inner lining of the coronary arteries. over the years some of these fatty streaks grow into larger cholesterol plaques that can protrude into the artery lumen and harden the artery walls. many men and women between the ages of 20 and 30 typically are unaware that their coronary arteries are gradually accumulating cholesterol plaques. but by ages 40 to 50 many people have developed enough atherosclerosis to put them at risk for coronary heart disease.
when does the coronary atherosclerosis process begin?