Know the Facts
The carotid arteries are the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to your brain. Typically, with age, atherosclerosis builds up within the carotid arteries causing them to become narrow (stenosis) and stiffen. Strokes result either from the obstruction of blood flow through the carotid arteries or when pieces of plaque or clot break off and travel to the brain, causing a minor or major stroke. Left untreated, carotid disease may lead to temporary or permanent disability and even death.
Risk Factors
Diabetes, family history of stroke, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, age or tobacco use
Symptoms
Many individuals do not have symptoms of carotid disease in the early stages. Carotid disease often develops slowly and the condition might not be obvious until it is severe enough to deprive the brain of blood and oxygen, causing a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIAs are warning signs or “mini-strokes” that cause temporary symptoms lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. These can be strong predictors of future and more severe strokes.
Symptoms of a stroke and TIA include*:
- Double vision or sudden vision loss in one eye (feeling of a curtain being pulled over one eye)
- Difficulty speaking clearly or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination
- Numbness, tingling or weakness on one side of your body
* If you suspect that you or someone you know is having a TIA or stroke, seek medical attention immediately and go to the nearest emergency room. Getting care quickly can dramatically reduce the chance of long-term damage
Treatments
Will be determined depending on degree of narrowing and presence of symptoms and medical history:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Medications
- Carotid endarterectomy
- Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)
- Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting (TFCAS)