Carotid artery disease is the leading cause of strokes. Carotid arteries are the two large blood vessels in your neck that supply blood to your brain. When these arteries become clogged with cholesterol, they become dangerously narrow. If a blood clot occurs in these arteries then blood cannot reach your brain. A stroke can result.
Warning signs
There are often no symptoms of carotid artery disease. Sometimes it is discovered after a physician hears an abnormal sound with a stethoscope called a bruit. However, there are several tests to identify carotid artery disease, including one that uses non-invasive
ultrasound.
Risk factors
The risk factors for carotid artery disease are:
- Family history of carotid artery disease or coronary artery disease
- Age
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
Getting preventive health screenings is a way to identify your risk and work to reduce it. You can also do so by eliminating or controlling any of the risk factors listed above. Find out if you are
at risk for carotid artery disease.
Diagnosis and screening
There are often no symptoms of carotid artery disease, but there are tests that determine if you have it. Life Line Screening offers several screenings to help you determine your risk of carotid artery disease:
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