Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis occurs when the carotid arteries narrow due to plaque deposits along the walls. The carotid artery is a critical part of your body’s cardiovascular system because these blood vessels deliver blood to your brain and head.

A narrowing of the carotid artery can mean interrupted or reduced blood flow to the brain, increasing your risk of a stroke. A stroke deprives your brain cells of oxygen and can result in permanent brain damage or even death.

Treatment of carotid artery disease usually involves lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. 

Carotid artery disease usually develops slowly, and the first indication that your brain is not getting enough oxygen may be a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary shortage of blood flow to your brain.

Symptoms of a TIA appear suddenly and can include:

• Numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, often on only one side of the body
• Trouble speaking and understanding
• Trouble seeing through one or both eyes
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Severe headache with no known cause

You should seek immediate emergency assistance if you experience any signs of a stroke, even if you have experienced them only for a short time. It may have been a TIA.

A TIA is a sure sign that you are at high risk for a stroke. You should see your doctor and get treatment before a stroke occurs. 

The carotid arteries can have a build-up of fatty substances and cholesterol along the arterial walls. This decreases the blood vessel’s ability to carry enough blood to the brain and increases the risk of a stroke.

The risk for a stroke increases if:

• The artery becomes extremely narrow
• The artery to the brain ruptures due to atherosclerosis (stiffness of the artery)
• Plaque from the artery walls breaks off and blocks the blood flow to the smaller blood vessels of the brain
• A blood clot forms and obstructs a blood vessel

People with the following factors or conditions are at higher risk of carotid artery disease.

• High blood pressure increases the pressure on the artery walls and weakens them.
• Using tobacco and nicotine increases your heart rate and blood pressure.
• A family history of atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease can increase your risk.
• Diabetes and insulin resistance reduces your body’s ability to process fats efficiently.
• With age, arteries become stiffer and more prone to injury.
• Sleep apnea, where you occasionally stop breathing at night, can reduce the oxygen intake in your body. 

Prevention is always better than cure, and that adage is especially true in the case of carotid artery disease. You can lower your risk of carotid artery disease if you:

• Stop smoking
• Maintain healthy weight
• Eat a balanced diet (high in fruits and vegetables and limit cholesterol and fat)
• Exercise regularly
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Limit your salt intake

Since symptoms of the condition are almost non-existent until a stroke or TIA occurs, it is good practice to plan your annual medical checks. Your doctor can use a stethoscope near your neck to listen to your carotid artery.

If the doctor hears any abnormal sounds from the artery, it may be due to turbulent blood flow and will need to be looked at more closely.

Additional tests may be needed to determine the reason for the abnormal sounds from the artery. Tests can include:

• Carotid ultrasound (standard or Doppler) – A noninvasive, painless screening test using high-frequency sound waves to check for plaques and blood clots in the artery.
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) - A powerful magnet is used to collect information about the brain and arteries and create high-resolution images. This test is useful to spot even minor strokes.
• Computerized tomography angiography (CTA) - A CTA uses X-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images of the carotid arteries and the brain. The scan reveals areas of the brain that may be damaged.
• Cerebral angiography (carotid angiogram) - Considered the gold standard for imaging the carotid arteries, the carotid angiogram is an invasive procedure that shows the blood flowing through the carotid arteries in real time.

Treatment for carotid artery disease focuses on preventing a stroke. This usually starts with lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet, including exercise in your routine, and stopping smoking. You may also be prescribed medication to lower your cholesterol.

The exact treatment option will depend on the extent of the blockage in the artery. However, if the blockage is severe, your doctor will likely recommend surgical procedures to remove the blockage and improve the blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of stroke.

Carotid endarterectomy is the most often used surgical procedure to treat severe carotid artery disease. During this procedure, the surgeon opens the artery along the front of your neck and clears the plaque blockage.

If the blockage is difficult to reach, it is better to use a carotid angioplasty and stenting procedure. During this procedure, a small stent is placed within the artery to keep the artery walls open to their proper size while trapping the plaque away from the blood flow between the stent and the artery wall.

Managing carotid artery disease revolves around ensuring that your risk of a stroke is minimized. Schedule a cardiology consultation with Dr. Lilian Ahiable at Sydnor Cardiovascular Center today to start managing your recovery process.

At Sydnor Cardiovascular Center, we provide expert care for people with all types of cardiac concerns. Entrust care for your heart to Dr. Ahiable and the team at Sydnor Cardiovascular Center.

To schedule an appointment, call us at 727-300-2282 or request an appointment online.