You may know that fatty plaque can build up in the coronary arteries, which cuts off blood flow to the heart. The same thing can happen in other arteries in the body, including the carotid arteries.
The carotid arteries, which are located in the neck, are responsible for carrying blood to the brain, face and head. When blood flow is cut off the brain is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive.
Eventually this can lead to a mini-stroke or stroke. Vascular specialists at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Vascular Center can diagnose and treat carotid artery disease to prevent these potential complications.
What is carotid artery disease?
Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, occurs when plaque made up of fat and cholesterol builds up in the carotid arteries, which are located on both sides of the neck. As plaque builds up it causes the artery to narrow and stiffen, which can make it more difficult for blood to flow through.
Too much plaque in the artery can block or limit blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke. A stroke can also occur if a piece of plaque or a blood clot breaks off in the artery, traveling to the brain.
What causes carotid artery disease?
The buildup of plaque responsible for carotid artery disease—called atherosclerosis—is largely associated with lifestyle habits. Risk factors for carotid artery disease include:
- Diabetes
- Family history of carotid artery disease or atherosclerosis
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Inactive lifestyle
- Obesity
- Smoking or the use of other tobacco products
Because the condition occurs when plaque builds up, it’s more common among older adults with the risk increasing with age.
What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?
In most cases early-stage carotid artery disease doesn’t cause any symptoms. Symptoms are more likely to develop as blood flow in the carotid arteries is cut off.
In many cases, the first sign of carotid artery disease is a mini-stroke (called a transient ischemic attack or TIA) or a stroke. The signs of a mini-stroke or stroke may include:
- Facial drooping
- Inability to speak or understand speech
- Loss of vision or blurry vision
- Weakness, numbness or tingling, particularly on one side of the body
Both conditions are emergencies requiring immediate medical attention.
How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?
In many cases, carotid artery disease is diagnosed when someone experiences stroke symptoms. A carotid duplex exam, which is a type of ultrasound, can be used to confirm blockages in the carotid arteries.
This noninvasive test uses sound waves to create images of the head and neck, which can identify blockages and determine their severity. Unlike standard ultrasound, carotid duplex ultrasound uses specialized Doppler technology to visualize blood flowing in the arteries.
Other tests, including a magnetic resonance arteriogram or a carotid arteriogram, may also be used to determine a diagnosis in some cases.
How is carotid artery disease treated?
After diagnosing carotid artery disease, a vascular specialist will categorize the disease based on its severity and where it’s located. Carotid artery disease may be categorized as mild, moderate or severe. Treatment for the disease varies based on classification.
Treatment of mild carotid artery disease may include:
Lifestyle changes
Healthy lifestyle habits, including getting regular exercise and eating a diet low in saturated fat, can slow the progression of carotid artery disease. Smoking cessation is also important. In fact, quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do if you’ve been diagnosed with mild carotid artery disease. Smoking hardens the arteries so quitting can mitigate that risk.
Medications
Many different medications can be used to treat carotid artery disease by mitigating its risk factors. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, you may be given medication to treat those conditions. Medication for carotid artery disease may also include blood thinners.
Treatment of moderate or severe carotid artery disease may require vascular surgery in addition to lifestyle changes and medications. Treatment may include:
Carotid angioplasty and stenting
During this catheter-based procedure, a small balloon-tipped tube is inserted into the body and woven to the carotid artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, pushing plaque to the artery walls and restoring blood flow. Then a small mesh tube (a stent) is inserted into the artery to keep it open.
Carotid endarterectomy
When a carotid artery is severely blocked or has caused a mini-stroke or stroke, an open procedure called carotid endarterectomy may be used to remove plaque from the artery. The artery is opened through an incision in the neck, plaque is removed and then the artery is stitched shut.
Transcarotid artery revascularization
This procedure, often called TCAR, is a minimally invasive option for treating carotid artery disease. During the procedure, a tube is placed into the carotid artery and connected to a system outside the body that temporarily changes the flow of blood. Instead of flowing to the brain, blood will flow away from the brain during TCAR, keeping any loosened plaque from reaching the brain and causing a stroke.
Once blood flow has been reversed as a safety measure, a vascular surgeon places a stent in the carotid artery to keep the artery walls open and blood flowing. Then your blood flow is restored to normal and the incision is closed.
Choose NGPG for carotid artery disease treatment
If you or someone you know has carotid artery disease, you can access the advanced care you need at NGPG Vascular Center. Our vascular specialists have years of experience in diagnosing and treating carotid artery disease to lower the risk of stroke.
We offer comprehensive treatment options for carotid artery disease, including both nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Whenever possible, we provide our patients with access to minimally invasive techniques.
We’re proud to offer options such as TCAR, which is specially designed to minimize the risk of complications, making it an option for older adults and others considered high risk. That’s part of our commitment to providing care for every patient who needs it.