Living With Carotid Artery Disease
If you have carotid artery disease, you can take
steps to stop it from getting worse. Make lifestyle changes, follow your
treatment plan, and know the warning signs of
stroke.
Lifestyle Changes
For more information, see
“How Is Carotid Artery Disease
Treated?”
Treatment Plan
Following your treatment plan is important. It may
help prevent your carotid artery disease from getting worse. It also can lower
your risk for stroke and other health problems.
You may need to take medicines to control certain
risk factors and to prevent blood clots that could cause a stroke. Taking
prescribed medicines and following a healthy lifestyle can help control carotid
artery disease. However, they can’t cure the disease. You will likely
have to stick with your treatment plan for life.
Ongoing Care
If you have carotid artery disease, having ongoing
medical care is important.
Most people who have the disease will need to have
their blood pressures and blood cholesterol levels tested one or more times a
year. If you have
diabetes, you’ll also need routine blood sugar tests and
other tests.
Testing shows whether these conditions are under
control, or whether your doctor needs to adjust your treatment for better
results.
If you’ve had a stroke or procedures to
restore blood flow in your carotid arteries, you will likely need a yearly
carotid
Doppler ultrasound test. This test shows how well blood flows through your
carotid arteries.
Repeating this test over time will show whether the
narrowing or blockage in your carotid arteries is getting worse. Results also
can show how well procedures to treat your arteries have worked.
Follow up with your doctor regularly. The sooner
your doctor spots problems, the sooner he or she can prescribe treatment.
Stroke Warning Signs
Know the warning signs of a stroke and what to do if
they occur. The signs and symptoms of stroke may include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face or limbs,
often on only one side of the body
- The inability to move one or more of your limbs
- Trouble speaking and understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- A sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Call 911 as soon as symptoms occur
(don't drive yourself to the hospital). It's very important to get checked and
to get treatment started within 1 hour of having symptoms.
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.
Make those close to you aware of stroke symptoms and
the need for urgent action. Learning the signs and symptoms of a stroke will
allow you to help yourself or someone close to you lower the risk for damage or
death from a stroke.
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