Carotid Artery Disease

What is Carotid Artery Disease ?

Carotid artery disease occurs when fatty deposits, called Arterial Plaque, clog the blood vessels that deliver blood to the brain and head (carotid arteries). The clog increases the risk of stroke. Stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the brain loses all or much of its blood supply.

During a stroke, the brain doesn't get oxygen and brain cells begin to die within minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the U.S.

Carotid artery disease often develops slowly. The first sign of the condition might be a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary shortage of blood flow to the brain.

Symptoms

A whooshing sound in the neck, called a bruit, that a doctor can hear with a stethoscope

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or "mini-stroke", which is like a stroke but only lasts a few minutes

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, often on one side of the body

Sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden dizziness or loss of balance

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carotid-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20360519