Complications of Carotid artery disease
A stroke occurs when the blood supply through the artery of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting nutrients or oxygen-rich blood.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Correspond to a temporary period of symptoms like those of a stroke resulting in neurological symptoms caused by focal brain, or spinal cord ischemia, without acute infarction.
Carotid artery (ICA) dissection. Diagnosis refers to where the layers of the carotid artery are spontaneously separated.
Why screening works
According to the CDC someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes someone dies of a stroke. To put it another way, strokes kill approximately 140, 000 Americans per year. About 87% of all strokes are ischemic in which blood flow to a particular part of the brain is blocked.
If you've had symptoms like dizziness, loss of balance, trouble speaking clearly, numbness around your face or arm, weakness in one side of your body, sudden headache, confusion, memory lapses, vision changes, or slurred speech, you should seek medical attention right away. A carotid ultrasound could help doctors figure out why you're experiencing those symptoms.
For example, if you experience a severe migraine attack, your doctor may order a carotid ultrasound to find out whether you have blocked arteries. Or, if you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor may want to know how much plaque has built up inside your arteries. In either case, the results of a carotid ultrasound would give your doctor important clues about the cause of your problem.
Your doctor may recommend additional tests if her findings suggest that something serious is going on. For instance, if your ultrasound shows signs of damage to your carotid artery walls, your doctor may refer you to a neurologist who specializes in treating strokes. She may also ask you to come back later in the week to discuss further testing.
Symptoms of carotid artery disease
The clinical features of carotid artery disease include:
- Headaches
- Weakness of an arm and/or leg
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Blindness or blurred vision
- Stroke
What are the causes of carotid artery disease?
In general, the most common cause of stroke is blocked blood vessels or bleeding inside the skull. Carotid artery stenoses are not generally considered to be the primary culprits because of how difficult they are to treat surgically and how low their prevalence rate is. In fact, even though they're one of the more commonly known causes of strokes, only 1% of strokes are attributed to carotid stenosis. Furthermore, there are many other factors that increase the likelihood of a person getting a stroke, like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, cholesterol, calcifications, Atherosclerotic plaque formation etc.
What is the risk factor of Carotid Artery Disease?
There are risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, family history, poor exercise The most prominent symptom of carotid artery disease is stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Carotid artery disease causes a high level of cholesterol in the bloodstream, which leads to plaque build-up within the walls of the carotid arteries. Plaque is made up of fatty materials inside the vessel that restricts blood flow. As plaque builds up in the carotid arteries, it reduces the amount of oxygenated blood delivered to the brain. When plaque breaks loose or forms a clot, it can cause a stroke. The goal of carotid ultrasound is to find carotid plaques that could possibly become clots and block the blood supply to the brain.
How do you prevent carotid artery disease?
You can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by following a healthy lifestyle. First, eat well and get plenty of fibre and antioxidants. Second, avoid smoking, limit alcohol intake, and manage stress. Third, maintain a healthy weight by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and avoiding drugs and other substances that can affect metabolism. Finally, if you do suffer a heart attack or stroke, make sure you receive treatment promptly so you can recover as quickly as possible.
it’s important to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, proper nutrition and maintaining a normal weight. You should also see your doctor regularly to monitor your cholesterol level. Medications such as statins help reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. There are no treatments available to dissolve existing plaques within the carotid arteries. However, studies suggest that reducing inflammation could slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.
What are the signs of stroke?
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States. It occurs when blood flow through one of the brain’s arteries becomes obstructed. Ischemic strokes occur because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients carried along by the blood flowing to the brain. When blood supply is interrupted, cells die and tissue damage begins. In the brain, this process leads to permanent loss of function, such as muscle control or vision.
What are some benefits of Carotid Screening Ultrasound?
There are many benefits of early screening such as early treatment intervention, lifestyle modification to reduce cardiovascular disease, identifying disease early. The best way to detect a stroke early is to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, including whether you smoke or drink alcohol, and perform a physical examination. He or she may order tests, such as blood work and a carotid ultrasound if you are suspected of having a plaque blocking the blood flow of the carotid artery which may lead to stroke.
Carotid Ultrasound
A carotid ultrasound is an imaging procedure used to evaluate the blood vessels in your neck. It's also known as an echocardiogram because it uses sound waves to create images of the heart. Carotid ultrasounds are often performed to diagnose conditions such as stroke and heart disease. They're also done to check for abnormalities in the internal jugular vein or thyroid gland.
What Happens During a Carotid Screening Ultrasound?
During a carotid ultrasound, an ultrasound device sends sound waves into your body. The sound waves bounce off objects in your body and return to the ultrasound device. These returning sounds are then converted into images. The images are displayed on a screen, making them easier to see.
The technician performing your test will use the ultrasound machine to get two-dimensional pictures of the arteries near your ears. He may also take 3D pictures that show you from different angles. Your doctor can review these 2D and 3D images together with other information about your condition. This helps him determine whether there might be any problems with the way your brain works.
Carotid ultrasounds aren't painful. You'll feel some pressure when he places the transducer over your head. However, this doesn't last long. Most people don't need sedation during a carotid ultrasound. If you do have surgery scheduled soon after the exam, talk to your surgeon before having the test so she knows what to expect.
How Often Should I Get One?
You should schedule regular carotid ultrasounds every year starting at age 45. Women older than 50 should get their first ones between ages 55 and 65. Men younger than 40 should wait until they reach 60 years old.
Why is screening important?
People usually have carotid ultrasounds to look for blockages in the main artery leading from your heart and another major artery called the vertebral artery. Blockage of both these arteries can lead to a stroke. Other reasons include:
- To detect narrowing of the carotid artery caused by atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease
- To monitor the progression of arterial wall thickening associated with hypertension
- To assess the degree of stenosis of the carotid bifurcation due to fibromuscular dysplasia
- To identify intracranial lesions causing transient neurological deficits
- To rule out dissection of the cervical segment of the internal carotid artery
When Will My Results Be Available?
Results typically won't be available immediately following the examination. Depending upon where you live, it may take several days or weeks for lab technicians to analyze all the data collected during your carotid ultrasound. Once the results are ready, your doctor will contact you via phone or email.