Summary

Carotid Artery Disease refers to a range of conditions which are the outcome of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries which supply blood to the head. It can cause several complications including stroke and permanent disability. Incidentally, it also acts as an indicator of possible atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries which again has life-threatening consequences. In this article, we will learn more.

Introduction to Arterial Stenosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which cholesterol, calcium and certain other substances found in the blood start depositing on the inner walls of the blood vessels. As the deposits grow, they narrow down the aperture available for blood flow or they constrict the blood-flow. This condition is called stenosis. Over time, the deposits harden and the material is now called plaque. Sometimes, the plaque breaks off in places. The body incorrectly treats the breakage as a wound, so clots start developing at the spot. The clots can also break off at times.

The breakaway clots and pieces of plaque can travel through the circulatory system and get lodged in tiny blood-vessels, creating a blockage there. This breaks off oxygen supply to that part of the body served by this blo-vessel. This can lead to various complications. So needless to say, atherosclerosis is a dangerous condition in the long run.

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Also Read: When is Carotid Artery Surgery necessary? What is the success rate?

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Carotid Artery Disease

The carotid arteries are a pair of major arteries, that run along the side of the neck. They supply blood to the face, the brain and rest of the head. It goes without saying that they must be in good condition always in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygenated blood to the head. However, atherosclerosis can affect this situation. Plaque deposits on the inner walls of carotid arteries can cause restricted supply of pure blood to the head.

Risk Factors

• Hypertension: Constant pressure on the arterial walls can weaken them, making them more vulnerable to plaque deposits and damage from plaque.
• Tobacco use: Nicotine present in cigarette smoke can irritate the inner lining of arteries. Other chemicals found in tobacco products are known to increase heart-rate and blood-pressure.
• Diabetes: Insulin resistance caused by Type-2 diabetes can reduce the body’s ability to digest fats, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension.
• High levels of fat in the blood: High levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides in the blood is known to help the buildup of plaques.
• A diet high in saturated fat: As a natural extension of the earlier point, an unhealthy diet rich in saturated fat and trans-fats can increase the levels of fat in the blood.
• Family history: Individuals with a family history of coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis in other parts of the body are at risk for carotid artery disease.
• Age: Arteries become weak and inflexible with age, making them vulnerable to damage of any kind, which sustains plaque buildup.
• Obesity: Being overweight increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of exercise can create conditions that damage the arteries, such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

Symptoms

Carotid artery disease does not show any symptoms till such time that a brain stroke occurs. The stroke can be a transient ischemic stroke where the symptoms disappear after some time, or a real stroke. So, when we say symptoms of Carotid artery disease, we are referring to symptoms of a brain stroke and this includes:

• Sudden drooping of one side of the face
• Sudden difficulties in speaking, such as slurred speech or trouble forming words
• Sudden loss of vision and experience of a dark shade covering the field of vision
• Suddenly losing feeling in one side of the body
• Sudden weakness or loss of muscle strength in one side of the body
• Sudden difficulty in swallowing
• Sudden loss of balance or coordination, and difficulty in walking
• Sudden dizziness and confusion
• Sudden loss of memory
• Sudden and severe headache

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Also Read: Symptoms of blocked Carotid Artery and treatment

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Diagnosis

According to cardiologists, imaging tests are the simple and effective method of diagnosing Carotid artery blockages, and includes:

• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• CT Angiography
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography
• Cerebral angiography

Treatment

Lifestyle changes

• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol consumption as much as possible
• Lowering cholesterol levels by consuming a balanced diet
• Lowering blood-sugar levels through medication
• Regular exercise
• Lowering blood-pressure through medication and better stress-management
• Maintaining weight
• Having regular health checkups

Medication

• Antiplatelets that reduce the chances of blood-clots
• Cholesterol-lowering medication
• Medicines that lower blood pressure

Surgical interventions

• Carotid endarterectomy (CEA): An open-incisional procedure to remove plaque and blood-clots from the carotid arteries
• Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS): A minimally-invasive procedure done to people for whom CEA is not a viable option

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Also Read: Guarding Your Health: Understanding Carotid Artery Screening

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Link between Carotid Artery Disease and Heart Health

When atherosclerosis occurs in the carotid arteries, it leads to carotid artery disease and when it occurs in the coronary arteries of the heart, it leads to coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies have been done to show that there is a clear link between Carotid Artery Disease and heart health. The chances of people with asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease (without stroke or other neurological symptoms), suffering a heart attack, are quite high. Some of the possible reasons for this are:

• Atherosclerosis is not always restricted to a particular part of the body, or the vascular system. Studies have established that plaques found in carotid and coronary arteries are morphologically similar, with minor differences. This means, the condition may be developing in multiple parts of the body simultaneously.
• Further, inflammation in the body caused by atherosclerosis in one part of the body increases the risk of atherosclerosis in another part of the body.
• Many of the risk factors listed for carotid artery disease are also risk factors for CAD. So, the occurrence of stroke may indicate a larger problem such as CAD.

Research is ongoing around the link. That is why, cardiologists insist on regular health checkups as these can unearth evidence of various health risks developing in different parts of the body.

Regular monitoring and proactive management of carotid artery disease are crucial for maintaining overall heart health. If you suspect any symptoms or want to understand your cardiovascular risk better, consult with specialists who can guide you through diagnosis and treatment options. At Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, our dedicated team of cardiologists and vascular specialists is committed to providing comprehensive care to support your heart health journey.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801

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