Blocked or clogged arteries typically occur when a substance called plaque builds up on your artery walls and significantly reduces your normal blood flow. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for plaque buildup.

A stroke occurs when an artery in the brain is either blocked or hemorrhages, seeping blood into the brain. According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States but is the principal cause of disability in adults.

Arteries supply leg muscles with the oxygen and nutrients essential for proper function. Atherosclerosis narrows or blocks the vessels, and the diminished blood supply produces symptoms, the earliest of which is pain or cramping during walking.

The carotid arteries are parallel blood vessels in both sides of the neck that supply blood to the head and brain. The internal carotid arteries run along the neck to the brain, while the external carotid arteries carry blood to the face.

If you have a blocked artery within your heart, you may be suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). This disease is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and fatty plaques within the arteries, a condition referred to as atherosclerosis.

If you have blocked or clogged arteries, it’s likely due to a buildup of fatty-deposit plaques. You may have a cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, as well.