Your arteries carry oxygenated blood from your heart to the rest of your body, keeping your blood circulating as it should. Two specific arteries, the carotid arteries in your neck, provide the blood flow to your brain. A condition known as carotid artery disease occurs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked. Left untreated, carotid artery disease can cause a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — also known as a ministroke because the symptoms resolve quickly.
“Many people do not know they have carotid artery disease until they have a ministroke or a full stroke,” says Dr. Chad Tober, board-certified vascular surgeon at Beaufort Memorial. “But we can identify carotid artery disease early so patients can take steps to protect themselves. Early screening with ultrasound is very important for patients 65 and older, and perhaps even for younger patients with family history of stroke.”
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What Carotid Artery Disease Looks Like
It’s natural to develop some plaque on the artery walls as we age. This buildup, called atherosclerosis, happens when calcium, cholesterol, fat and other substances combine to narrow the walls of your arteries. Plaque blocks blood from going where it needs to go and can break off to cause blockages in arterial branches downstream. If this happens in your heart, you can have a heart attack. If it happens in your carotid artery, a stroke occurs. Carotid artery disease affects 3% of people age 65 and older, and it may cause 30% or more of strokes, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery.
Often, carotid artery disease has no warning symptoms. Many people think that because the two carotid arteries are in the neck, they might notice pain in the neck if the blockages are serious. Unfortunately, pain is not a sign of carotid artery disease.
If the condition causes a TIA or stroke, people may experience the following symptoms:
- Fainting
- Loss of vision in one eye
- Numbness
- Ringing in the ears
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
Symptoms of a TIA usually go away quickly, differentiating it from a major stroke. To identify the signs of a stroke, keep the FAST acronym in mind:
- Face: One side of the face is drooping.
- Arms: One arm experiences weakness.
- Speech: Speech is slurred or difficult
- Time: If any of these symptoms occur, call 911 immediately.
Treating these symptoms may prevent a TIA from becoming a major stroke.
Knowing Your Risk Makes All the Difference
You can take steps, such as exercising, eating a heart-healthy diet, and stopping smoking, to prevent plaque buildup from worsening. Doing so can also help control certain risk factors for carotid artery disease, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
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However, some risk factors are beyond your control, including your age and having a family history of stroke. Preexisting medical conditions, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes and peripheral artery disease, can also increase your risk for carotid artery disease.
If you have any risk factors, your doctor may recommend vascular screening to identify carotid artery disease before a stroke occurs. To diagnose the condition, your provider may perform a physical exam and listen to your neck for a whistling sound called a bruit, a sign the disease is limiting blood supply to the brain. You may also need an ultrasound or other imaging exam, such as a CT scan, to see how clogged your carotid arteries are. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medications or regular monitoring. You may also need surgery. Your doctor may recommend a carotid endarterectomy or a newer, less-invasive procedure called a transcarotid artery revascularization, or TCAR.
Want to know if you’re at risk of carotid artery disease? Request a vascular screening.
