Prioritizing your mental and physical wellbeing is one of the best decisions you can ever take for yourself. Maintaining your fitness includes considering all body parts, including blood vessels, veins, and arteries. Among all, carotid arteries are the major blood vessels that deliver blood to your brain. They are located on each side of your neck. When your doctor detects your pulse by putting their hands on your neck, they’re feeling one of your carotid arteries, and it can be a sign of danger if you have a blockage in one or both of these arteries.
Such a condition can be characterized as Carotid Artery Disease, when the amount of blow flow to your brain starts to decrease and lead to a stroke. If you’re confused about the disease, below we offer a short write-up to discuss Carotid Artery Disease, its causes, and symptoms.
Brief Overview of the Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Disease happens when plaques (calcium, fatty deposits, or other wastes) start clogging and narrowing your blood vessels. This process is called atherosclerosis which disrupts blood flow to your head and brain and can result in strokes. Poor blood supply to the brain means less oxygen being transmitted to the area, causing the brain cells to die. Strokes are one of the fundamental causes of death and disabilities in the U.S.
The crucial factor is that Carotid Artery Disease is a gradual and slow development, and its first critical symptom is mostly a stroke or TIA. TIA ( transient ischemic attack) is a short-term restriction in blood flow to human brains.
Common Symptoms Of Carotid Artery Disease
There aren’t significant symptoms of Carotid Artery Disease during its initial stages. And you might not realize that you have the illness until your brain experiences an alarmingly low blood flow. Often, people will have strokes, rush to the hospitals, and upon running tests, would be diagnosed with Carotid Artery Disease.
Some signs that you are having a TIA or stroke include:
- Unexpected and intense headache
- Uncoordinated balance due to extreme dizziness
- Sudden blurriness in one or both eyes
- Suddenly feeling numb or immensely weak to stand, speak or comprehend
General Risk Factors Of Carotid Artery Disease
Some of the factors that can increase the possibility of Carotid Artery Disease include:
- High tobacco use (nicotine and smoking can increase blood pressure and heartbeat rate)
- Obesity (excess body weight and lack of exercise can result in high blood pressure)
- Age (as you grow, you can develop atherosclerosis and high blood pressure)
- Diabetes (slow fat processing can cause high blood pressure and atherosclerosis)
- Heredity (if your genetic history includes this disease, you are more likely to encounter it)
Diagnosis And Treatment
Carotid Artery Disease and strokes can cause several health problems with moving, eating, speaking, memory, and emotional instability. Therefore, it’s safer to get tested for Carotid Artery Disease as soon as possible, especially if someone in your family already has the sickness. You must also reach out to medicare professionals if you’re experiencing the symptoms of stroke or TIA.
If you live in Snellville, Lithonia, or Conyers, you can contact Milner Vein & Vascular. The medical experts can help you understand complications of this Disease and offer you suggestions to reduce the risks of encountering it.
You can email your message at info@milnervein.com or submit an online contact form to schedule your appointment. You can also call (678) 580-1149 for the latest updates and information.