Doctors consider the carotid, or neck arteries key because they supply blood to the brain.
When these arteries become clogged by plaque, a narrowing, or atherosclerosis, occurs. The more advanced the atherosclerosis, the greater the chance one of the arteries will become blocked by plaque or a blood clot, causing a stroke. If a blood vessel leading to the heart is blocked, a heart attack can occur. The three-year study, which was based on previous studies showing similar effects in animals, involved 793 men and women ranging in age from 49 to 70. All had plaque in the carotid artery but no symptoms of carotid artery disease.