What is Carotid Artery Disease?
A. Carotid artery disease occurs when plaque builds up on the artery wall. This condition is called stenosis and is the leading cause of thrombolotic stroke. Early warning signs of stenosis can be detected by a primary care physician during a regular physical exam and include the presence of a carotid bruit or a difference in blood pressure in the right and left arms.
Blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the neck can predispose patients to suffer a stroke which occurs when a portion of the brain receives inadequate blood flow and dies. Since it is very difficult to reverse the damage once it has occurred, successful management of this condition requires early recognition of the disease, often even before symptoms occur, and prompt, safe treatment. What are Aneurysms? The aorta which is the main artery carrying blood from the heart to every part of the body can develop a focal weakness of its wall due to atherosclerosis. This results in the formation of a dilated segment, or aneurysm, which if left untreated, will continue to enlarge until it ruptures resulting often in the death of the patient. Other arteries, usually in the legs, can also become aneurysmal. However, leg aneurysms rarely rupture. In fact, they are more likely to become filled with blood clot which can break off and block main arteries of the lower leg. Such an occurrence can res
