Carotid artery disease

What is carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease occurs when there is damage to the inner layers of the arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Approximately 30% of strokes are caused by narrowing or blockages in the carotid arteries on either side of the neck.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the location of the blocked brain blood vessel. Because you may not have symptoms, you may not even know you have carotid artery blockage until it interrupts blood flow to the brain. When the brain is deprived of blood, it stops functioning and a stroke occurs.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, you should call 911 immediately. A stroke can cause brain damage within minutes. With quick treatment, it is possible to minimize a stroke’s effects. Stroke symptoms may include:

• Partial loss of vision in one eye, double vision, uncontrollable eye movements or eye drooping
• Weakness, tingling or numbness in one arm and/or leg
• Temporary loss of control of movement in one arm and/or leg
• Inability to pronounce words or speak clearly
• Numbness on one side of the face
• Unsteadiness, vertigo, loss of balance or sudden falls
• Difficulty swallowing
• Temporary memory loss
• Personality or mood changes
• Drowsiness or loss of consciousness

Causes

When arteries are damaged, the natural healing process may help build up plaque or cholesterol deposits, which can crack or rupture. When this occurs, platelets (blood cell fragments) stick to the injury site and may form blood clots. Plaque or blood clots can severely narrow or block the carotid arteries, interrupting blood flow to the brain, and a stroke can occur.

A stroke caused by a blockage is called ischemic (the most common type, more than 90 percent of cases); one caused by bleeding in the brain is called hemorrhagic. Sometimes atrial fibrillation (“A-fib”) can cause stroke. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is stopped, brain damage can occur in minutes. Sometimes a “mini stroke,” or transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs instead; in this case, stroke-like symptoms occur, but there may be no lasting damage.

Some factors contributing to carotid artery disease are:

• Smoking
• High levels of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
• High blood pressure
• High levels of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes

Risk factors

You are at risk for carotid artery disease if you:

• Are obese
• Are diabetic
• Smoke
• Eat fatty foods
• Have high cholesterol or blood pressure
• Do not get much exercise or lead a sedentary lifestyle
• Have a family history of heart disease
• Have excess stress
• Have already had a TIA or small stroke, you are at high risk for a permanent stroke

Prevention

Because the effects of stroke can be devastating, prevention is essential. Though you cannot control factors such as age and gender, a healthy lifestyle goes far in preventing carotid artery disease. Lifestyle changes such as the following can reduce your risk of having a stroke:

• Exercising more
• Losing excess weight
• Quitting smoking
• Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins
• Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women and two per day for men
• Scheduling regular physical exams

Source: https://lenoxhill.northwell.edu/lenox-hill-heart-lung/cardiology/find-care/conditions/carotid-artery-disease