What is a dissected carotid artery?
The carotid artery is a major blood vessel that travels from the aorta, just above the heart, into the neck alongside the the windpipe (trachea). There are actually four carotid arteries: An external and internal carotid artery on the right and a similar pair on the left. They carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain, eye, facial muscles and other structures in the head. A dissection of the carotid artery is a tear in one of these blood vessels. The may be from an injury, a genetic disease that weakens the arteries (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) or hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). In many cases, there is no clear cause and the condition is considered “spontaneous.” When a dissection occurs, a blood clot usually develops within the wall of the artery. This causes a narrowing or ballooning out of the artery (an aneurysm). Either way, blood flow may be blocked, which can cause a stroke. Common symptoms of carotid dissection include: • Neck pain • Headache • Facial
