Who is at high risk of getting carotid artery disease?
You are more likely to develop carotid artery disease as you age. Males have carotid artery disease more often than females. Other things that increase your chance of having carotid artery disease include: Family history: You are more likely to have problems if atherosclerosis or stroke runs in your family. Heart disease: Atherosclerosis can cause narrowing of the arteries in the heart as well as the carotid arteries. Other health problems: You are more likely to have carotid artery disease if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol (koh-LES-ter-ol), diabetes, or problems with blood circulation. Smoking: Smoking causes your arteries to narrow and decreases the amount of oxygen in your blood. Smoking also damages the walls of your arteries, which may allow blood clots to form. Smoking increases your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems.
