The carotid arteries are the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to your brain. Blockages made of cholesterol and calcium can build up in your carotid artery and cause the artery to narrow (carotid stenosis). Pieces of the blockage or small clots that may form on the blockage can break off and travel up to your brain causing a stroke. Our treatment and follow up for karate order disease are aimed at preventing stroke.
Symptoms of carotid artery disease
The first signs of carotid artery disease may be:
- A stroke which can result in weakness or numbness in one side of your body, slurred speech, difficulty talking, facial drooping, or confusion.
- Mini-stroke which can be the same symptoms of a stroke but last only a short period of time.
- If you have carotid artery disease sometimes you may hear a "swooshing sound “ with your heartbeat.
Most people with carotid artery disease, even with severe blockage, experience no symptoms until they have a stroke or mini stroke.
Diagnosis of carotid artery disease
Blockages in the carotid arteries are usually found on routine physical exams or during image testing for other problems.
Carotid ultrasound
The most common imaging test to diagnose and follow carotid artery disease is carotid artery ultrasound. This test is non- invasive, painless, and quick to perform. This can determine how severe blockages in the carotid arteries are.
CT angiography (CTA) / magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Some patients also need additional testing such as CTA or MRA in order to obtain more detail information about the extent and positioning of the carotid artery disease.
Carotid arteriogram
This is an invasive, catheter-based angiogram performed in an operating room or office interventional suite. Typically this test is obtained when an accurate diagnosis or extent of carotid blockage with ultrasound, CTA, or MRA cannot determined.
Treatments for carotid artery disease
Not every patient with carotid artery disease need surgery. If the blockage is not severe and there are no symptoms then we monitor the carotid artery's with ultrasound every 6 to 12 months.
If the carotid artery blockage is severe or a patient is having symptoms from the blockage then treatment for carotid artery disease is recommended to reduce the possibility of stroke. Specific treatments depend on the severity of artery blockage.
- Quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do for your health, including the carotid arteries.
- Medication can help slow the progression of carotid artery disease. Aspirin and medications that lower your cholesterol are used for nearly all patients with carotid stenosis.
- Surgery - Surgery may be recommended depending on your symptoms and how severe the blockage is. Most patients are best treated with open surgery under general anesthesia that requires making an incision on the neck to remove the blockage. Some patients who are at high risk for complications from general anesthesia (for example patients with severe heart disease) do better with placement of a stent in the carotid artery to open it up. Stent Placement is done using light sedation making it a safer procedure for high risk patients.