Nearly 800,000 people suffer a stroke each year. This devastating brain injury occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted, and more than 140,000 don’t survive. Fortunately, an estimated 80% of stroke cases can be prevented.
This means you can take meaningful action right now to lower your risk of stroke, and it starts with forming a strong doctor-patient partnership with a health care provider, like our experienced team here at Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates.
Carotid artery disease is a silent contributor to stroke, making it a crucial topic about which to increase awareness. Here are five critical things to know.
The carotid arteries run along each side of your neck and deliver oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Over time, fatty deposits that harden into plaque can build up inside these vessels. This process, called atherosclerosis, gradually narrows the artery.
Symptoms are rare in the early stages of carotid artery disease. You won’t feel plaque accumulating. In many cases, the first sign of CAD is a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or full stroke.
That’s why screening matters, especially if you have cardiovascular risk factors.
Carotid artery disease shares many of the same risk factors as coronary artery disease. These include:
If you’ve already been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease or coronary artery disease, your likelihood of carotid involvement is higher.
At Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates, comprehensive vascular evaluations help identify patients at increased risk, often before symptoms develop.
Although the condition is often silent, there are important red flags that require immediate medical attention:
With a TIA, symptoms may resolve in minutes. However, a TIA is a serious warning sign that a larger stroke could follow. This makes prompt vascular evaluation vital.
Noninvasive vascular ultrasound is often the first step in diagnosing carotid artery disease. This painless test measures blood flow and identifies plaque buildup or arterial narrowing.
If significant blockage is detected, further imaging may be recommended to define the severity. Early detection provides the opportunity to aggressively manage risk factors, prescribe medication, and implement intervention when necessary.
Our heart and vascular specialist, Nader Chadda, MD, FACC, FSCAI, specializes in vascular intervention. When carotid narrowing becomes severe, intervention may be recommended to reduce stroke risk.
One advanced option is carotid artery stenting, a minimally invasive procedure that restores blood flow by placing a stent within the narrowed artery. This approach avoids open surgery and is particularly beneficial for certain high-risk patients.
Dr. Chadda brings extensive expertise to vascular interventions, having handled complex cases.
Carotid artery disease doesn’t make itself known with obvious symptoms, and that quiet development is what makes it dangerous. If you have cardiovascular risk factors or a history of vascular disease, screening may prevent a devastating stroke.
Patients at Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates receive tailored risk assessments, imaging, and comprehensive treatment plans with a primary focus on prevention.
If you’re concerned about your stroke risk, give us a call or send us a message to schedule an evaluation at our Hudson or Brooksville, Florida, office today. Early detection could make all the difference.
