Carotid
Artery Disease
Overview
Carotid artery disease
occurs when fatty deposits (plaques) clog the blood vessels that deliver blood
to your brain and head (carotid arteries). The blockage increases your risk of
stroke, a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is
interrupted or seriously reduced.
Stroke deprives your brain
of oxygen. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. Stroke is the most common
cause of death and the leading cause of permanent disability in the U.S.
Carotid artery disease
develops slowly. The first sign that you have the condition may be a stroke or
transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary shortage of blood flow to
your brain.
Treatment of carotid artery
disease usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medication and
sometimes surgery.
Symptoms
In its early stages, carotid
artery disease often doesn't produce any signs or symptoms. The condition may
go unnoticed until it's serious enough to deprive your brain of blood, causing
a stroke or TIA.
Signs and symptoms of a
stroke or TIA include:
Sudden numbness or weakness
in the face or limbs, often on only one side of the body
Sudden trouble speaking and
understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one
or both eyes
Sudden dizziness or loss of
balance
Sudden, severe headache with
no known cause
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care if you
experience any signs or symptoms of stroke. Even if they last only a short
while and then you feel normal, see a doctor right away. You may have
experienced a TIA, an important sign that you're at risk of a full-blown
stroke.
Talk to your doctor if you
have risk factors for carotid artery disease. Even if you don't have any signs
or symptoms, your doctor may recommend aggressive management of your risk
factors to protect you from stroke. The
risk factors for carotid Seeing a doctor early increases your chances that
carotid artery disease will be found and treated before a disabling stroke
occurs.
Causes
Carotid artery disease is
caused by a buildup of plaques in arteries that deliver blood to your brain.
Plaques are clumps of cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue and other cellular
debris that gather at microscopic injury sites within the artery. This process
is called atherosclerosis.
Carotid arteries that are
clogged with plaques are stiff and narrow. Clogged carotid arteries have
trouble delivering oxygen and nutrients to vital brain structures that are
responsible for your day-to-day functioning.
Risk factors
Factors that increase your
risk of carotid artery disease include:
High blood pressure. Excess
pressure on artery walls can weaken them and make them more vulnerable to
damage.
Tobacco use.
Nicotine can irritate the inner lining of your arteries. Smoking also increases
your heart rate and blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Diabetes lowers your ability to process fats efficiently, placing you at
greater risk of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
High blood-fat
levels. High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
and high levels of triglycerides, a blood fat, encourage the accumulation of
plaques.
Family history.
Your risk of carotid artery disease is higher if a relative has atherosclerosis
or coronary artery disease.
Age.
Arteries become less flexible and more prone to injury with age.
Obesity.
Excess weight increases your chances of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis
and diabetes.
Sleep apnea.
Spells of stopping breathing at night may increase your risk of stroke.
Lack of exercise. It
contributes to conditions that damage your arteries, including high blood
pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Complications
Ischemic stroke
Carotid artery disease
causes about 10 to 20 percent of strokes. A stroke is a medical emergency that
can leave you with permanent brain damage and muscle weakness. In severe cases,
a stroke can be fatal.
Carotid artery disease can
lead to stroke through:
Reduced blood flow. A
carotid artery may become so narrowed by atherosclerosis that not enough blood
is able to reach portions of your brain.
Ruptured plaques. A
piece of a plaque may break off and flow to smaller arteries in your brain. The
plaque fragment may get stuck in one of these smaller arteries, creating a
blockage that cuts off blood supply to part of your brain.
Blood clot blockage.
Some plaques are prone to cracking and forming irregular surfaces on the artery
wall. Your body reacts as if to an injury and sends blood cells that help the
clotting process to the area. The result can be a large clot that blocks or
slows blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke.
Prevention
To prevent or slow the
progression of carotid artery disease, consider these suggestions:
Don't smoke.
Within a few years of quitting, a former smoker's risk of stroke is similar to
a nonsmoker's.
Maintain a healthy
weight. Being overweight contributes to other risk
factors, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and
sleep apnea.
Limit cholesterol and
fat. Cutting back on saturated fat, in
particular, may reduce the buildup of plaques in your arteries.
Eat a variety of fruits and
vegetables. They contain nutrients such as potassium, folate and antioxidants,
which may protect against a TIA or stroke.
Limit salt.
Excess salt (sodium) may increase blood pressure in people who are sensitive to
sodium. Experts recommend that healthy adults eat less than 1,500 milligrams of
sodium a day.
Exercise regularly.
Exercise can lower your blood pressure, increase your level of high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol — and improve
the overall health of your blood vessels and heart. It also helps you lose
weight, control diabetes and reduce stress.
Limit alcohol.
Control chronic
conditions. Managing conditions such as diabetes and
high blood pressure helps protect your arteries.
Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA,
LFACHE
Senior Consultant
Senior Management
Resources, LLC
JanJenningsBlog.Blogspot.com
412.913.0636 Cell
724.733.0509 Office
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