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Stenosis

By Jennifer Moll, About.com

Updated: November 17, 2008

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Definition: Stenosis is a narrowing of any tubular structure in the body, including blood vessels, heart valves, vertebral canal and the GI tract. Blood vessel narrowing is one of the more common usages of the term.

High cholesterol could contribute to the stenosis of an artery when it accumulates on the inner wall of the artery. This accumulation, referred to as atherosclerosis, can build up within the artery to the point where it reduces blood flow to organs of the body. When blood flow is reduced, nutrients and oxygen cannot travel to the tissues that need it.

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