Carotid artery disease

You’re in excellent hands for carotid artery disease treatment. At our vascular treatment center at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, if you’re diagnosed during a test you may be able to stay in the same room and undergo the treatment procedure right away. That means you can get life-saving treatment the moment your doctor sees you need it.

What is carotid artery disease?

Your carotid artery runs along both sides of your neck and carries blood to your brain. It’s the artery you feel with your fingers to check your pulse in your neck.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque – made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other materials found in your blood – builds up in your arteries. When atherosclerosis occurs in your carotid arteries, it causes carotid artery disease.

Plaque can narrow or block the carotid artery, making it difficult for your brain to get enough blood and oxygen. This means you could develop a stroke or other medical problems.

Carotid artery disease vs. coronary artery disease

Carotid artery disease and coronary artery disease are similar in that both conditions are caused by plaque buildup. Because each of these arteries performs a different function, the diseases affect different organs. Carotid artery disease reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your brain, while coronary artery disease reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart.

Carotid artery disease symptoms

Because plaque buildup happens gradually, carotid artery disease can have few signs in the beginning. The first symptom is usually a stroke or mini-stroke, called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flowing to your brain. A TIA is similar, but the clot blocks blood flow only for a short time and may not cause permanent damage.

Treating a TIA can help prevent a stroke. And treating a stroke quickly can reduce your risk of long-term brain damage.

If you or someone you love has any of these symptoms, call 911 right away. Remember to BE FAST:

• Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• Eyes: Sudden change in vision, like vision loss, blurry or double vision
• Face: Facial droop, uneven smile
• Arm or leg: Limb weakness or numbness, often on one side of your body
• Speech: Slurred speech, trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying
• Terrible headache: Sudden onset of the worst headache of your life

Carotid artery disease causes and risk factors

Certain risk factors are associated with carotid artery disease. You may be more likely to develop the condition if you:

• Are overweight
• Smoke
• Have high blood pressure or cholesterol
• Have family members who have the disease
• Are a male over age 45 or a woman over 55

Carotid artery disease diagnosis

To help detect carotid artery disease, your doctor may examine you for possible blockages during a routine office visit. They’ll use a stethoscope to listen for a bruit, or whooshing sound, as the blood flows through your carotid artery. This unique sound can indicate a narrowed artery.

We may recommend additional tests. These might include:

• Echocardiogram: This is a heart ultrasound that uses sound waves to create images of your carotid artery.
• CT scan or MRI: These imaging tests create detailed, cross-sectional views of your carotid artery.

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Carotid artery disease treatment

We’re here to help you do everything possible to protect your heart health. If your carotid artery disease is in the early stages, you may be able to control it. Your doctor may recommend:

• Lifestyle changes: Losing weight, quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet, and getting more exercise can help reduce the chances of plaque buildup.
• Medication: Blood thinners or prescription drugs can help lower your blood pressure or improve your cholesterol.

If your symptoms are more serious, we may recommend minimally invasive or surgical procedures, such as:

• Angioplasty and stenting: To improve blood flow through your arteries, your doctor may open them with small balloons. To keep your arteries open, your doctor may insert small mesh, metal tubes called stents.
• Endarterectomy: Your doctor can use this surgical procedure to improve blood flow by removing excess plaque from your arteries.

Learn more about carotid artery disease treatments.

Are you at risk for heart disease?

Knowing your risk factors of heart disease – the leading cause of death in the U.S. – can help you lower your chances of developing it. Our heart health quiz estimates your risk, determines which of your risk factors are controllable, and gives you an idea of what to do next based on your results.

Take the heart health quiz