Phone: 0884-2944466,7416622540
vascularsurgeonkakinada@gmail.con
1st floor, D.No: 21-1-10, Jawahar Street, Opp Shravani ENT Hospital, Kakinada-533001.
Phone: 0884-2944466,7416622540
vascularsurgeonkakinada@gmail.con
1st floor, D.No: 21-1-10, Jawahar Street, Opp Shravani ENT Hospital, Kakinada-533001.
The carotid arteries are the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to your brain. A substance called plaque accumulates inside your arteries as you age. If too much plaque builds up in your carotid artery, it can cause the artery to narrow (carotid stenosis). Small clots can form, then break off and travel to the brain, causing a minor or major stroke.
Up to 3% of individuals older than 65 years have carotid artery disease. Your risk increases as you age, and is heightened if you have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease. Carotid stenosis is responsible for up to one-third of all strokes. Stroke causes 1 in every 15 deaths. About 700,000 strokes occur every year, usually in men.
MAY BE ABSENT:Most people with carotid artery disease, even with severe blockage, experience no symptoms. The condition is found in a routine physical or ophthalmological examination, or is found following a stroke.
IN RARE CASESVery rarely, carotid artery disease may cause ringing in the ears or fainting due to decreased blood flow to the brain. Neck pain is not a symptom of carotid artery disease.
WEAKNESS, NUMBNESS, SLURRED SPEECHThe first signs of carotid artery disease may be a stroke, mini-stroke or TIA symptoms, such as weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also experience slurred speech or facial drooping.
The most common cause is a build-up of plaque in the carotid arteries due to multiple risk factors, such as a history of smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. This is the same type of plaque that forms in the heart and causes heart attacks.
In rare cases, carotid artery may narrow due to inflammation.
Routine physical exams include the physician using a stethoscope to listen to your heart and certain blood vessels. A whistling sound or "bruit" coming from the carotid artery may indicate plaque is building up inside the artery and lead your doctor to recommend you see a vascular surgeon.
That can also be detected during an eye examination if your doctor detects a plaque in the artery that supplies the retina.
You will be asked questions about symptoms and medical history, including questions about family members. The vascular surgeon will also perform a physical exam.
The most common and non-invasive diagnostic test is a non-invasive carotid artery duplex scan that uses two kinds of ultrasound. The test can determine whether the artery is narrowing and if so, provide an accurate estimate of severity.
Alternative radiological tests are sometimes used to determine the presence and degree of any narrowing. These include a computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or angiogram.