![]() Receiving a screening before you experience symptoms helps reduce the chances that surgery will be necessary by detecting disease before a 50% blockage develops. This procedure removes the plaque from the arteries to restore normal blood flow and reduce the likelihood of a stroke. In cases of severe disease, or if treatment is ineffective, you may need to undergo a surgical procedure called a carotid endarterectomy. Your doctor may also prescribe blood thinners or other medications to prevent the blood from clotting. Your doctor may order additional tests to confirm a diagnosis of carotid artery disease.ĭepending on the severity of disease, treatment can include changes to your lifestyle, such as reducing the amount of saturated fat and sodium in your diet, exercising regularly, and monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If the screening report identifies the buildup of plaque in your carotid arteries, schedule an appointment with your doctor to review the results. What Happens After My Carotid Artery Disease Screening? Physicians who are on the front lines of vascular disease believe in these tests-9 out of 10 cardiovascular doctors support preventive health screenings for cardiovascular disease among people with key risk factors. This is one reason the simple ultrasound of the carotid arteries is so valuable: it helps people understand their risk of developing atherosclerosis in other areas of the body as well. Plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) can occur in any of the arteries in the body. Early identification of risk, before symptoms are present, allow you and your doctor to take action if necessary. Plaque buildup can be progressive without treatment, getting worse over time. This allows people with normal, mild, or moderate carotid artery blockage to compare the results of each screening to previous screening results, determining if the plaque buildup has gotten worse. After a board-certified physician reviews your results from the screening, the results letter will indicate the degree of plaque buildup for each of your two arteries on a scale of normal (no plaque identified and blood flow is normal) to significant (large amount of plaque identified, and blood flow is significantly reduced). Carotid artery screening is conducted via a non-invasive color flow ultrasound in which a technician creates a series of images of the carotid arteries while also measuring blood flow through them. The best way to check for carotid artery disease is to undergo a screening. Carotid artery disease is a major risk factor for strokes because plaque can either break off and travel to the brain, or it can block blood flow to the brain, resulting in a stroke that could cause permanent brain damage or death What is Carotid Artery Disease Screening? People who have carotid artery disease, which is a form of atherosclerosis, can often have plaque buildup in arteries in other parts of the body as well. ![]() In fact, for 4 out of 5 people who have a stroke, the first symptom they experience is the stroke. Carotid artery disease develops slowly over time as people age, and most people have no symptoms. ![]() Clogged arteries do not deliver blood and oxygen as well as they should to the brain. This is defined as carotid artery disease, which is a form of atherosclerosis. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other cellular substances and it can collect in the arteries, making the arteries stiffer and narrower. You have two carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, which carry blood to the brain. It occurs when plaque builds up in the carotid arteries. Carotid artery disease is also known as carotid stenosis.
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