Supporting Microvasculature Function

Changing the mind-set of clinicians and researchers in the field of atherosclerosis to reconsider the importance of the arterial wall microvasculature is crucial for understanding fundamental aspects of disease progression and for identifying potential new targets for prevention and therapeutic intervention. We propose microvascular dysfunction as the missing piece in the site-specificity puzzle of atherosclerosis and discuss ways in which microvasculature function can be supported to enable atherosclerosis regression. Lastly, we consider a number of simple behavioral lifestyle choices that can be implemented to maintain a competent vessel wall microvasculature to prevent atherosclerosis development.