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Carotid Artery Disease
A major contributor to life-threatening strokes
Overview
As you age, plaque accumulates inside your arteries. If too much of this plaque builds up in your carotid artery, it can cause the artery to narrow, which is known as carotid stenosis. Small clots can form, break off, and then travel to the brain. This can cause minor and major strokes. Up to 3% of individuals older than 65 have CAD, with your risk increasing as you age. Carotid stenosis is responsible for up to 1/3 of all strokes. About 700,000 strokes occur annually, with strokes causing 1 in every 15 deaths!
Symptoms
Most people who have CAD don't experience any symptoms, even if they have a severe blockage! However, these are some possible symptoms that someone with CAD may experience...
Ringing in the ears
Weakness, Numbness, or Slurred Speech
Fainting
Causes
Some common causes of CAD are...
Aging
Personal History of Smoking, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, or Diabetes
Inflammation of the carotid artery
Diagnosis
During a routine exam, your physician will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and blood vessels. If a whistling sound, or "bruit," is detected in the carotid artery, it may indicate plaque build-up. Your physician may then refer you to a vascular specialist. A non-invasive carotid artery duplex scan, performed with ultrasound, is often used to assess whether the artery is narrowing and to determine its severity. In some cases, additional imaging tests such as CT scans, MRAs, or an angiogram may be recommended.
Treatment
Treatment for CAD is incredibly important to reduce the possibly of a stroke or the recurrence of stroke. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the artery's narrowing, but some common ones are medication or surgery. A combination of medications can help to slow the progression of CAD, specifically aspirin and those that lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. This is often the route taken when narrowing is less than 60%. Surgery is often recommended when the degree of narrowing is more than 60%, with some potential operations being a carotid endarterectomy or a carotid angioplasty and stenting.
Visit Society of Vascular Surgery for more information.
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