Carotid Artery Disease Treatment Options
This site is dedicated to education on the carotid artery disease treatment options available to minimize the risk of stroke from carotid artery disease. Read below for some of the key considerations as you and your physician determine your appropriate carotid artery stenosis treatment options.
Carotid Artery Disease
Treatment Options
Carotid Artery Disease Treatment Options
Carotid artery disease is a significant cause of the 800,000+ strokes that impact people in the US each year.
Carotid Artery Stenosis
The carotid arteries are vital blood vessels in your neck that deliver oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Carotid artery disease occurs when these blood vessels become clogged with fatty material called plaque. Sometimes physicians refer to this plaque as a carotid artery blockage. When plaque builds up, the vessels begin to narrow and slow down blood flow, know as carotid artery stenosis. This condition can cause a stroke if blood flow stops or plaque fragments travel to the brain.
Diagnosing Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid artery disease develops slowly, often without any symptoms. Fortunately, physicians can screen patients using simple, non-invasive techniques including ultrasound. Carotid Artery blockages can also be found when a physician hears a sound through a stethoscope placed on the neck. The sound is caused by blood flowing past the carotid artery blockage. However, in some patients, the first sign of the presence of a blockage in the carotid artery is a stroke. When a patient is admitted to the hospital with a stroke, one of the initial tests is to check if there is carotid artery blockage.
Diagnosing Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid artery disease develops slowly, often without any symptoms. Fortunately, physicians can screen patients using simple, non-invasive techniques including ultrasound. Carotid Artery blockages can also be found when a physician hears a sound through a stethoscope placed on the neck. The sound is caused by blood flowing past the carotid artery blockage. However, in some patients, the first sign of the presence of a blockage in the carotid artery is a stroke. When a patient is admitted to the hospital with a stroke, one of the initial tests is to check if there is carotid artery blockage.
The Risk of Stroke
Since stroke deprives your brain of oxygen, it only takes minutes for brain cells to begin to die. Every year, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke, also known as a brain attack. Nearly 6 million die and another 5 million are left permanently disabled. Carotid artery disease is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with 427,000 new diagnoses of the disease each year in the United States alone.
You may be at risk of carotid artery disease related stroke if you have two or more of the following:
High cholesterol
Large amounts of cholesterol in the blood can build up and cause blood clots — leading to a stroke.
High blood pressure
This is the leading cause of stroke. Know your blood pressure and have it checked every year.
Tobacco smoking
The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system and pave the way for a stroke.
Family history
If your close blood relations have had a stroke, you are at higher risk of stroke.
You may be at risk of carotid artery disease related stroke if you have two or more of the following:
High cholesterol
Large amounts of cholesterol in the blood can build up and cause blood clots — leading to a stroke.
High blood pressure
This is the leading cause of stroke. Know your blood pressure and have it checked every year.
Tobacco smoking
The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system and pave the way for a stroke.
Family history
If your close blood relations have had a stroke, you are at higher risk of stroke.
Carotid Artery Disease Symptoms
Carotid artery disease develops slowly. Often called the silent killer, the first symptom for a patient at risk for stroke is a stroke itself or a “mini-stroke” called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary stroke that resolves itself in 24 hours or less. It is considered a warning sign for a full-blown stroke. If someone is having stroke-like symptoms (weakness/numbness on one side, loss of eyesight/speech, garbled speech, dizziness or fainting), they should seek immediate medical attention and be evaluated for carotid blockage and stenosis. If you suspect a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T.
Face Drooping
Look for an uneven smile
Arm Weakness
Check if one arm is weak
Slurred Speech
Listen for slurred speech
Time to Call 9-1-1
Right away
Carotid Artery Disease Symptoms
Carotid artery disease develops slowly. Often called the silent killer, the first symptom for a patient at risk for stroke is a stroke itself or a “mini-stroke” called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary stroke that resolves itself in 24 hours or less. It is considered a warning sign for a full-blown stroke. If someone is having stroke-like symptoms (weakness/numbness on one side, loss of eyesight/speech, garbled speech, dizziness or fainting), they should seek immediate medical attention and be evaluated for carotid artery blockage and stenosis. If you suspect a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T.
Face Drooping
Look for an uneven smile
Arm Weakness
Check if one arm is weak
Slurred Speech
Listen for slurred speech
Time to Call 9-1-1
Right away
Your Carotid Artery Blockage Treatment Options
If you are diagnosed with carotid artery disease or told you have a blocked carotid artery, talk to your primary care doctor about when you should schedule an appointment with a vascular specialist. Carotid artery disease treatment options depend upon the severity of your overall condition and symptoms. Moderate disease may not require carotid artery surgery, also known as intervention, as some individuals can manage the disease with medications and lifestyle changes. More severe blockages may require carotid artery surgery.
Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)
Medical
Therapy
Transfemoral Carotid
Artery Stenting (TF-CAS)
Carotid
Endarterectomy (CEA)
Treatment Options for Your Carotid Artery Disease
If you are diagnosed with carotid artery disease or told you have a blocked carotid artery, talk to your primary care doctor about when you should schedule an appointment with a vascular specialist. Carotid artery disease treatment options depend upon the severity of your overall condition and symptoms. Moderate disease may not require carotid artery surgery, also known as intervention, as some individuals can manage the disease with medications and lifestyle changes. More severe blockages may require carotid artery surgery.
Transcarotid
Artery
Revascularization
(TCAR)
Medical
Therapy
Transfemoral
Carotid
Artery Stenting
(TF-CAS)
Carotid
Endarterectomy (CEA)
Discover Patient Videos
“It’s a great feeling to be able to enjoy life.”
Fisherman Jackie went to his eye doctor after experiencing fainting spells and blurry vision. They found his left carotid artery was clogged with disease-causing, fatty build up. After seeing a vascular specialist, he was diagnosed with carotid artery disease. Eager to get back on the water, Jackie decided to receive the TCAR procedure.