Your Trusted Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention)Treatment and Prevention Experts In South Dakota
What is Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention)
The carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Carotid artery stenosis occurs when plaque, mainly composed of fat and calcium, blocks blood flow to the brain. This may cause stroke due to the lack of oxygen reaching the brain. In this country, carotid artery disease affects 4 million people each year and is a leading cause of stroke.
In most cases, carotid artery disease gradually worsens over many years. The first sign of a problem may occur when a patient experiences a “mini-stroke.” Also called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, carotid artery disease causes temporary stroke-like symptoms which resolve on their own.
Symptoms of Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention)
In most patients, symptoms don’t occur until the carotid artery disease is severe. Symptoms occur when the brain is starving for blood. Symptoms of stroke or TIA include the following:
Facial droop
Facial droop, when one side of the face appears different or droopy.
Sudden arm or leg weakness
Sudden arm or leg weakness, usually on one side of the body.
Sudden difficulty speaking
Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding others.
Severe headache
A worsening, severe, or more frequent headache may be a sign of Carotid Artery Disease.
Sudden difficulty seeing
Changes in vision, or increased blurriness may be a sign of Carotid Artery Disease.
Dizziness
Dizziness or loss of balance, falling down.
FAST is the mnemonic device to help recognize stroke symptoms.
Facial droop. Ask the person to smile. Is there a droop?
Arm or leg weakness.
Speech difficulty. Unable to speak, slurred speech.
Time. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately
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Risk Factors of Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention)
Like other forms of cardiovascular disease, the main risk factors for carotid artery disease and stroke include
Tobacco Use
High cholesterol
Lack of Exercise
Obesity
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Family History
Increasing age
Diagnosis of Carotid Artery Disease
The diagnosis of carotid artery disease begins with a physician taking a medical history, asking questions about your family, and performing a physical examination. Additional testing may include the following:
- Ultrasound. This test looks at blood flow through the carotid arteries as well as other blood vessels supplying the brain with oxygen-rich blood.
- CT or MR Angiography. Both CT and MRI can be used to provide an extremely accurate 3-D model of the blood supply to the brain, including the carotid arteries.
Treatment of Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention)
In patients with mild to moderate carotid artery disease, the mainstay of treatment is medication and lifestyle changes. For those with severe blockage, those with recent TIA or stroke, definitive treatment with surgery or stenting is recommended.
A surgeon will make a small incision in the neck, expose the carotid artery, and surgically remove the plaque to restore normal blood flow and prevent future TIA or stroke.
If surgery cannot be performed, or if the patient prefers a less invasive procedure, stenting of the carotid artery can be performed with excellent long-term outcomes. A cardiologist or vascular surgeon deploys a metal stent to cover the blockage to prevent future TIA or stroke.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure performed by a vascular surgeon to minimize risks of open surgery. Blood flow is temporarily shunted away from the brain, a stent is deployed, and blood flow to the brain is returned to normal.
Experienced Care for Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke Prevention) Symptoms in the Black Hills
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis, please call Black Hills Heart and Vascular at (605) 503-8192 to schedule an appointment or to obtain a second opinion. Black Hills Heart and Vascular has the only board-certified vascular surgeon in the West River region.
