Diseases of the arteries are common; the best known is coronary artery
disease. This is the narrowing of the coronary arteries which supply blood to
the heart and it can lead to a heart attack. The process which causes the arteries
to block is called atherosclerosis; fatty substances accumulate in the coronary
artery wall which then becomes so narrow that if a thrombosis occurs the blood
supply to the heart is blocked and a “heart attack”occurs. This arterial disease
(atherosclerosis) can also affect other arteries of the body. If the carotid arteries
in the neck are involved blood flow to the brain can be interfered with and a
stroke can occur. If the arteries which supply blood to the legs are involved this
is referred to as peripheral arterial disease.