In this investigation we have analyzed a Newtonian fluid model for blood flow through a tapered artery with a stenosis by taking variable viscosity and heat transfer phenomena into accout. The governing equations are simplified under the assumption of mildstenosis. Perturbation method is used to solve the resulting equations. The effects of Newtonian nature of blood on velocity, temperature profile, wall shear stress, shearing stress at the stenotsis throat and impedance of the artery are discussed.