It is the narrow of artery, called carotid artery, which takes blood from heart to brain. The artery narrows because of fatty deposits called plague, buildup inside it. this interrupts the blood and oxygen supply to the brain. As a result, the person can suffer from stroke.
Risk Factors:
Factors which can increase the risk of having carotid stenosis include
• Age
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Inactive lifestyle
Signs and Symptoms:
Some signs experienced when brain is not receiving enough blood because of carotid stenosis (CS) may include dizziness, fainting and blurred vision. In many cases, the first symptom is as stroke also called as transient ischemic attack (TIA), when a small blood clot forms in the blocked area of artery.
Stroke signs to look for are numbness in one side of the body, paralysis, trouble talking, blurred vision and headache.
Diagnosis:
Abnormal sound in the artery can be heard without a stethoscope. Also, imaging tests (Ultrasound, MRA, CTA, etc.) are done to measure and find where the stenosis is.
Treatment:
Severe cases of stenosis often require carotid endarterectomy, in which a surgeon makes an incision to remove plaque and any diseased portion of the artery while the patient is under general anesthesia.
A less invasive option includes Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting: During this procedure, a catheter is threaded from an incision in the groin to the site of the blockage, where a balloon tip is inflated to open the artery. A stent may be placed in the artery to expand it and hold it open.
