Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Artery Disease occurs when your carotid arteries, the large blood vessels in your neck that supply the brain with blood, become narrow due to the buildup of plaque. If the artery becomes too narrow or blocked, the blood supply is cut off to the brain and can cause a stroke.

Symptoms

Warning signs of carotid artery disease include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs or “mini-strokes”) or temporary blindness in one eye. Unfortunately, the first symptom of the disease may be a stroke. Our office can perform testing to determine if you have the condition.

Depending on the severity of the narrowing of the arteries, the disease may be treated with surgery or medication to reduce the risk of stroke. Another treatment option is stenting, where a metallic stent is used to hold the artery open.

For more on Carotid Artery Disease, visit MedlinePlus.