Often this condition occurs in one part of the body only, producing leg cramps in many cases and sometimes interfering with mental processes if the arteries are those that supply blood to the brain . Hardening of the arteries is sometimes confused with a different artery disease caused by cholesterol deposits. As the heart beats, it pushes blood through the arteries . Healthy arteries are soft and elastic. They can expand to receive blood from the heart and then contract to help push blood through.
Arteries expand and contract with every beat of the heart.
The arteries can be compared to a rubber tube or hose, such as a garden hose. After a number of years the garden hose becomes hard and stiff. It will not roll up easily and shows signs of wear. As people age, their arteries may also become stiffer, less flexible, and less able to expand and contract. When this happens, the amount of blood that can pass through an artery decreases and, as a consequence, blood pressure increases.