Carotid Arteries and Stroke
The carotid arteries, located on both sides of the neck, provide oxygenated blood to the brain. These arteries can become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup causing a lack of blood flow to the brain. The most common area for plaque to form is found where the carotid arteries divide in your neck. Plaque is a fatty substance that bonds itself to the innermost lining of your carotid arteries, causing them to narrow. This narrowing of the carotid arteries is known as carotid stenosis. Over time, this plaque in the carotid arteries can become complicated, creating a blood clot or detaching itself from the vessel wall causing it to embolize (travel to the brain) - which may cut off blood supply to the brain. The lack of blood flow to the brain may cause a stroke or a mini-stroke (also called TIA).
Carotid artery disease can develop slowly and often goes unnoticed. A stroke or TIA may be the first outward clue you have carotid artery disease. Each year, it is estimated that approximately 700,000 Americans will suffer a stroke, of which 20-30 percent of these strokes are caused by carotid artery disease. A stroke is a permanent neurological deficit and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
On the other hand, a TIA usually lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and your body returns to normal. However, a TIA is an important sign that you’re at high risk for having a full-blown stroke. Do not ignore the symptoms, and seek medical help right away. Seeing a doctor early increases your chances that carotid artery disease will be detected and treated before a disabling stroke occurs.
Stroke Signs and Symptoms
Some signs of stroke or TIA include:
-
Sudden weakness, numbness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg - typically on one side of your body
-
Drooping on one side of the face
-
Dizziness, loss of balance or falling for no apparent reason
-
Slurred speech or difficulty understanding others
-
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
-
Transient blindness in one eye (like a shade being pulled down over the visual field)
-
Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes (blurred vision)
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your risk of carotid artery disease include:
-
Aging. With age, your arteries become less flexible and more prone to injury.
-
High blood pressure. Excess pressure on your artery walls can weaken them and leave them more vulnerable to damage.
-
Smoking. Nicotine can irritate the inner lining of your arteries, in addition to increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
-
Abnormal blood-fat levels. High levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and the blood fat called triglycerides can accelerate the accumulation of plaques.
-
Diabetes. Diabetes affects your body’s ability to process fats efficiently, placing you at greater risk of high blood pressure.
-
Obesity. Carrying excess pounds increases your chances of high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and diabetes.
Learn More
Get details on the carotid ultrasound test you may need if your phyisican suspects you have carotid artery disease. Download the carotid ultrasound patient instructions that include a summary of the test, directions to the Aultman Vascular Lab and more.
