What Is Carotid Artery Disease?
Carotid (ka-ROT-id) artery disease is a condition in
which a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up inside the carotid
arteries. You have two common carotid arteriesone on each side of your
neckthat divide into internal and external carotid arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich
blood to your brain. The external carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to
your face, scalp, and neck.
Carotid Arteries
Figure A shows the location of the
right carotid artery in the head and neck. Figure B is a cross-section of a
normal carotid artery that has normal blood flow. Figure C show a carotid
artery that has plaque buildup and reduced blood flow.
Carotid artery disease can be very serious because
it can cause a
stroke, or “brain attack.” A stroke occurs when
blood flow to your brain is cut off.
If blood flow is cut off for more than a few
minutes, the cells in your brain start to die. This impairs the parts of the
body that the brain cells control. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage,
long-term disability, paralysis (an inability to move), or death.
Overview
When plaque builds up in arteries, the condition is
called
atherosclerosis
(ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). Over time, plaque hardens and narrows the arteries.
This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of
your body.
Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body.
For example, when plaque builds up in the coronary (heart) arteries, a
heart
attack can occur. When plaque builds up in the carotid arteries, a stroke
can occur.
A stroke also can occur if blood clots form in the
carotid arteries. This can happen if, over time, the plaque in an artery cracks
or ruptures. Blood cells called platelets (PLATE-lets) stick to the site of the
injury and may clump together to form blood clots. Blood clots can partly or
fully block a carotid artery.
Also, a piece of plaque or a blood clot can break
away from the wall of the carotid artery. It can travel through the bloodstream
and get stuck in one of the brain’s smaller arteries. This can block
blood flow in the artery and cause a stroke.
Carotid artery disease may not cause signs or
symptoms until the carotid arteries are severely narrowed or blocked. For some
people, a stroke is the first sign of the disease.
Outlook
Carotid artery disease causes more than half of the
strokes that occur in the United States. Other conditions, such as certain
heart problems and bleeding in brain, also can cause strokes.
Lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or medical
procedures can help prevent or treat carotid artery disease and may reduce the
risk for stroke.
If you think youre having a stroke, you need
urgent treatment. Call 911 right away if you have
symptoms of a stroke (dont drive
yourself to the hospital). Getting care within 1 hour of having symptoms is
important.
You have the best chance for full recovery if
treatment to open a blocked artery is given within 6 hours of symptom onset.
Ideally, treatment should be given within 3 hours of symptom onset.
March 2008
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