About This Lesson
Heart disease is caused by the buildup of cholesterol-filled plaque inside arteries in the heart, decreasing blood flow to the heart muscle. However, arteries in the heart aren’t the only ones that can get blocked. Arteries in the legs can also become narrowed or blocked by plaque, decreasing blood flow to the legs. That can result in wounds that won’t heal or dead tissue, requiring amputation. However, long before that, the person may notice they can’t get around like they used to.
