Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Disease Treatment in Phoenix
Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, is a condition that occurs when fat, cholesterol, and plaque build up in your arteries and obstruct the flow of blood to your brain and face. Without diagnosis and treatment, you are at risk of a stroke. Arizona Vein & Laser Institute utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to screen, test, and diagnose arterial diseases and conditions. Our carotid artery disease treatment and management methods include lifestyle modification, medication, and surgical intervention. Call us today to schedule a consultation with our specialists to obtain a carotid artery disease diagnosis or treatment of carotid artery disease in Arizona.
What Is Carotid Artery Disease?
The carotid artery is a large, long artery that runs down each side of your neck. These arteries supply blood to your brain, face, and head. Carotid artery disease is a condition that occurs when an artery is blocked. A blockage can develop due to a buildup of plaque. Plaque is fatty cholesterol deposits that develop over time due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetic factors. This buildup of plaque is called atherosclerosis. Carotid artery disease can develop in one or both carotid arteries and will worsen over time if you don’t receive proper treatment and care.
Carotid Artery Disease Risks
The primary risk of carotid artery disease is a stroke. Without carotid artery disease treatment, the blood flow through one or both arteries can become so restricted that your face and brain do not get enough blood. This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke; without quick intervention, your brain cells begin to die. A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a mini-stroke that occurs when there is only a temporary blockage of the artery. Most people experience a TIA before experiencing an ischemic stroke.
Carotid Artery Disease Symptoms
In its earliest stages, carotid artery disease doesn’t show obvious symptoms. Most people don’t realize they have the disease until they show signs of a stroke. The symptoms of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are:
- Drooping of one side of the face.
- Slurred speech.
- Trouble forming words and communicating.
- Loss of vision in one eye.
- A dark shade coming down over the field of vision in one eye.
- Loss of feeling on one side of the body.
- Loss of muscle strength.
- Weakness on one side of the body.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance.
- Sudden severe headache.
Obtaining a Carotid Artery Disease Diagnosis
You should call 911 immediately if you display any symptoms of a stroke or TIA. Even if the symptoms pass and you feel okay, you should visit one of our specialists for a professional evaluation. We will assess your symptoms, health history, lifestyle, and your risk factors for carotid artery disease:
- Smoking or using tobacco products.
- Obesity.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Diabetes.
- Age.
We will then check for any blockages in your carotid arteries. We will start with a neck exam using a stethoscope. We will then proceed to image tests such as:
- Ultrasound – An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of the body’s internal structures. It is painless and performed on top of the skin using a small, handheld wand device. We can use an ultrasound to assess the blood flow through the arteries and determine if there are any blockages or narrowing.
- CT Scan – A computed tomography angiography uses a CT scanner to take X-rays to obtain detailed images of internal organs. We can use this device to obtain a detailed view of the carotid arteries. We inject dye into the bloodstream, which will show blockages on the X-ray images.
- Cerebral Angiography – A cerebral angiopathy uses a catheter inserted into the arteries to assess a blockage. We inject dye into the arteries to highlight the blockage.
- MRA – A magnetic resonance angiography is like a CT scan but uses magnetic imaging technology rather than X-rays.
Carotid Artery Disease Treatment in Arizona
Carotid artery disease (CAD) is a severe condition that prohibits the flow of blood to the brain and face. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, patients are at risk of stroke. To mitigate health hazards and medical complications, look to Arizona Vein & Laser Institute for safe and effective carotid artery disease treatment in Arizona.
Carotid artery disease (CAD) is a condition that occurs when one or both arteries become blocked. Blockages develop as a result of plaque buildup, also known as atherosclerosis. Plaque refers to fatty cholesterol deposits that accumulate over time due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetic factors. Without treatment, CAD progressively becomes more severe.
CAD is a serious condition that requires thorough medical intervention. Carotid arteries are responsible for moving the blood supply to the brain. When one or both of these arteries become obstructed or narrowed, the brain becomes deprived of essential oxygen. Without medical intervention, CAD can trigger mini-stroke, stroke, and other dangerous symptoms.
Early-stage carotid artery disease may not exhibit many, if any, symptoms at all. At Arizona Vein & Laser Institute, the majority of our patients with early-stage CAD do not even realize that they have the disease until they are diagnosed or begin experiencing symptoms of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Patients often experience TIA or stroke as their first carotid artery disease symptom. These symptoms include:
- Face drooping on one side
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty forming words/communicating
- Vision loss and/or dark shade over the field of vision in one eye
- Loss of sensation/weakness on one side
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Sudden severe headache
CAD is the result of vascular disease or excess fatty cholesterol deposits (atherosclerosis) obstructing the passage of blood within the carotid arteries. However, CAD does involve several risk factors, including:
- Genetics and family history of CAD
- Coronary heart disease
- High blood pressure and/or cholesterol
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking or tobacco products
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Age
- Female
After being diagnosed with CAD, your physician will develop a carotid artery disease treatment plan to open the artery(s). However, even when carotid artery disease treatment is successful, you will be required to undergo further ultrasound testing. Subsequent ultrasounds ensure the artery remains unobstructed.
Abnormal CAD scan results do not always equate to surgery. A number of factors, including the severity of the condition and the details of the abnormality found in the scan, will determine the best type of carotid artery disease treatment for your specific needs.
Carotid artery surgery is recommended for patients with artery occlusions greater than 70% and for those who have experienced stroke or mini-stroke symptoms. Depending on the specifics of the patients’ CAD, two types of carotid artery surgery are available: carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery angioplasty and stenting.
Carotid endarterectomy is used to remedy moderate narrowing in the artery. Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting are minimally invasive alternatives that involve placing a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin area to be threaded into the carotid arteries. Both types of CAD surgery are safe and effective, with good success rates.
CAD Prevention relies on your lifestyle. To reduce the risk of CAD, quitting smoking and adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise routine are crucial. It is equally as important to manage pre-existing conditions that elevate the risk of CAD, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or diabetes.
Carotid Artery Disease Treatment
Our carotid artery disease treatment includes lifestyle modification, disease management, and medications. We will recommend that you follow a heart-healthy diet, exercise daily, limit your alcohol intake, and stop smoking. We may prescribe a therapeutic daily dose of aspirin and/or other medications to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol. If you have had a TIA or stroke, you will likely need surgical intervention. We may recommend a carotid endarterectomy, during which we will make an incision in the carotid artery to remove plaque. We may also place a stent to open the artery and block the plaque from the blood flow.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Specialists
Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our Arizona Vein & Laser Institute specialists. We have six convenient locations in Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Surprise, Avondale, and Phoenix. Each location is staffed with medical specialists and highly-skilled cardiovascular surgeons. Same-day appointments are often available, so call us now to get started.
Customer Reviews
Dr. Sharma and his entire staff have been treating me for a few months, helping me resolve a serious condition only recently detected by my GP/doctor. His staff is friendly and efficient, and Dr. Sharma is gentle, informative, and effective. I researched him before I chose him, and I'm so glad I did.
Courteous and knowledgeable and very quick to get follow appointment the next week