What is carotid artery disease?

Carotid stenosis: In the carotid arteries the flow of blood goes from being linear to being turbulent due to the "fork in the road" at the bifurcation. This causes the area of the proximal internal and external carotid arteries to develop plaque. This plaque leads to narrowing of the artery. The material that is causing the narrowing is fragile and can break off and cause a stroke.

Vascular disease of : Vascular disease of the carotid artery.Perhaps narrowing of the vessel. The disease may lead to a stroke since the brain is not getting adequate blood flow or perhaps a plaque may break off and lodge in a blood vessel in the brain.