Editing Vulnerable plaque (section)

== Vulnerable plaque vs stable plaque ==
The factors involved to promote either a vulnerable plaque or a stable plaque are not clear yet, however, the major differences between a vulnerable and stable plaque are that vulnerable plaques have a <nowiki>''</nowiki>rich-lipid core<nowiki>''</nowiki> and a <nowiki>''</nowiki>thin fibrous cap<nowiki>''</nowiki> in comparison with the <nowiki>''</nowiki>thick fibrous cap<nowiki>''</nowiki> and the <nowiki>''</nowiki>poor lipid plaque<nowiki>''</nowiki> present in the stable plaque. In case of a vulnerable plaque, this results in a larger diameter of the Artery Lumen, which means that patient's life style is not affected, however, when the thin fibrous cap breaks, this causes a prompt activation of platelets which causes the occlusion of the artery, which causes a sudden heart attack if it occurs in the coronary artery.

Concerning stable plaques, the thick fibrous cap avoids the breaking risks, however, it reduces significantly the artery diameter which causes the cardiovascular problems related to the decreasing of vessel's diameter (this is determined by the [[Hagen–Poiseuille equation]] which explains how flow-rate is related to the radius of the vessel to the fourth power).