Overview:
Carotid stenosis is a narrowing of the carotid arteries, the two major arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. Also called carotid artery disease, carotid stenosis is caused by a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) inside the artery wall that reduces blood flow to the brain. Treatment aims to reduce the risk of stroke by controlling or removing plaque buildup and preventing blood clots.
Causes:
- The artery becomes extremely narrowed
- There’s a rupture in an artery to the brain that has atherosclerosis
- A piece of plaque breaks off and travels to the smaller arteries of the brain
- A blood clot forms and obstructs a blood vessel
Symptoms:
You may not have any symptoms of carotid artery disease. Plaque builds up in the carotid arteries over time with no warning signs until you have a transient ischemic attack(TIA) or a stroke.
Risk Factors:
- Age
- Smoking
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) — the most important treatable risk factor for stroke
- Abnormal lipids or high cholesterol
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Family history of atherosclerosis, either coronary artery disease or carotid artery disease
How to Reduce Your Risk:
- Quit smoking.
- Control high blood pressure.
- Control diabetes.
- Have regular checkups with your doctor.
- Have your doctor check your cholesterol and get treatment, if necessary.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Limit alcohol to 1 drink per day for women, 2 for men.