Swirski acknowledged that “there is no question” that genetics play a role in cardiovascular health, but in the last several years, four risk factors — stress, sleep interruption or fragmentation, diet, and sedentary lifestyle — have been clearly identified as contributing to atherosclerosis, commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries, which can lead to a variety of complications, including death.

The four major contributors to atherosclerosis are fairly well know. Now researchers are looking at their impact at the cellular level. https://t.co/lEQYxe9Qdf

— Harvard Medical School (@harvardmed) August 7, 2021