WHAT IS CAROTID STENOSIS?
Carotid stenosis is the narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck, which supply blood to the brain, usually due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). This narrowing restricts blood flow, potentially starving brain cells of oxygen and increasing the risk of a stroke if the plaque ruptures or blocks the artery completely. It’s a form of atherosclerotic disease similar to coronary artery disease, managed with lifestyle changes, medications, or procedures like surgery to open the artery.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS FOR CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS?
There are several factors that can increase your chance of developing this condition over time
- Smoking and using tobacco products.
- Having obesity.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- High cholesterol.
- Diabetes.
- Age.
SYMPTOMS OF CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS?
Carotid artery stenosis can cause a stroke. The kind of stroke that usually happens from carotid stenosis
is pieces of plaque (or platelets that form on plaque) travel to your brain. Called “ischemic” stroke, it
cuts off blood supply to a portion of your brain. When this blockage is permanent, your brain cells or
neurons start to die.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a “mini-stroke” that’s only a temporary blockage of a small brain
artery from plaque and/or platelets. For many people, a TIA precedes an ischemic stroke. For these
conditions, it’s very important to seek treatment as quickly as possible in order to prevent cell death.
is pieces of plaque (or platelets that form on plaque) travel to your brain. Called “ischemic” stroke, it
cuts off blood supply to a portion of your brain. When this blockage is permanent, your brain cells or
neurons start to die.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a “mini-stroke” that’s only a temporary blockage of a small brain
artery from plaque and/or platelets. For many people, a TIA precedes an ischemic stroke. For these
conditions, it’s very important to seek treatment as quickly as possible in order to prevent cell death.
SYMPTOMS OF A STROKE?
The symptoms of a TIA or stroke can include:
- Drooping of one side of your face.
- Slurred speech or trouble forming words and communicating with others.
- Losing vision in one eye with the experience of a dark shade coming down over your field of vision.
- Losing feeling on one side of your body.
- Losing muscle strength and having weakness on one side of your body.
- If you have carotid artery stenosis that hasn’t caused a stroke, you may not notice any symptoms.
TREATMENT FOR CAROTID STENOSIS?
Exercise, quitting smoking, blood pressure control, and medicine can also help. Opening the carotid arteries once they are narrowed can be done with a surgery or with angioplasty and a stent.