What is Atherosclerosis? Ray Liotta cause of death revealed nearly one year after tragic passing

Ray Liotta's cause of death has been finally disclosed following his demise a year ago on May 26, 2022, in the Dominican Republic. He was filming for Dangerous Waters at the time and he passed away in his sleep. Reports has now revealed that he was suffering from heart and respiratory problems that led to his death.

The health documents mentioned the cause of death as natural and non-violent. Other causes that were stated in the documents include respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema, and acute heart failure. According to the documents, he was battling atherosclerosis, which can cause diabetes and other health problems.

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Atherosclerosis may be an underlying issue behind Ray Liotta's death

According to documents obtained by TMZ, medical authorities also listed atherosclerosis as an underlying issue that contributed to Liotta's death.

According to the Mayo Clinic, atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances inside and outside the artery walls. The buildup is also known as plaque, and it can lead to the narrowing of arteries and a block in blood flow. The problem has a bad impact on the arteries. But the condition is still curable.

The common symptoms of the disease depend on the arteries that have been affected. It can be anything that includes chest pain, sudden numbness or weakness in the arm and legs, difficulty speaking, temporary loss of vision, drooping muscles in the face, leg pain while walking, high blood pressure, or kidney failure.

The disease might begin in an individual's childhood, and it starts with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery. It might happen due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, smoking or chewing tobacco, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation from unknown reasons or diseases like arthritis, lupus, and others.

Certain factors can increase the risk of the disease, which include a family history of heart disease, an unhealthy diet, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high levels of C-reactive protein, obesity, and smoking or tobacco use.

It can lead to complications like coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, aneurysms, and chronic kidney disease. The problem can be prevented by avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, checking blood pressure, and checking cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

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Ray Liotta appeared in several films and TV series

Ray Liotta was featured in various films and TV shows (Image via Virginia Sherwood/Getty Images)

Ray Liotta made his television debut with the NBC soap opera Another World, where he played the role of Joey Perrini. He then appeared in two television films, Hardhat and Legs and Crazy Times.

Liotta then appeared in his first film, The Lonely Lady, which was released in 1983. He gained recognition for his appearances in a few more films, which include Something Wild, Arena Brains, Dominick and Eugene, and Field of Dreams. Liotta then portrayed Henry Hill in the 1983 film Goodfellas. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film grossed around $47 million at the box office.

Ray Liotta also portrayed Officer Ed Santini in ten episodes of the ABC drama series Our Family Honor and Bobby Stevens in seven episodes of the CBS drama series Smith.

He voiced Zack in an episode of the animated sitcom Family Guy and Bubble Poppin Boys Leader in SpongeBob SquarePants in 2008. He was the narrator in 16 episodes of the AMC docuseries The Making of the Mob. He was featured in other TV shows like Casablanca, Frasier, Just Shoot Me!, Hannah Montana, Young Sheldon, The Simpsons, and more.

Ray Liotta became famous for his performances in films like No Escape, Operation Dumbo Drop, Phoenix, A Rumor of Angels, Identity, Comeback Season, The Place Beyond the Pines, Snowmen, The River Murders, The Identical, Hubie Halloween, The Many Saints of Newark,Cocaine Bear, and more.