Carotid Artery Disease Specialist

What is carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease is a serious condition in which plaque — a film made of cholesterol, fats, calcium, and other substances — accumulates inside the two carotid arteries within your neck. This plaque buildup, called atherosclerosis, is dangerous within any blood vessel.

Your carotid arteries deliver blood, along with all of its oxygen and nutrients, to your brain. If plaque builds up in your carotid arteries, it can reduce or disrupt that blood flow, significantly increasing your risk of stroke. 

What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease usually doesn't produce symptoms until it’s serious. Most people don't realize they have carotid artery disease until they have a transient ischemic attack (TIA). 

A TIA, sometimes called a mini stroke, is a brief interruption in blood flow to your brain. TIAs can cause the same symptoms as a stroke, but those symptoms fade so quickly that they may be hard to recognize. 

Symptoms of a TIA or stroke can include:

• Numbness in your face, arm, or leg on one side
• Difficulty enunciating 
• Difficulty comprehending what others say
• Blurry vision or other vision problems
• Dizziness
• Losing your balance
• Painful headache

TIA and stroke symptoms usually appear very suddenly. If you have any of these symptoms, take them seriously and contact Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group to arrange an evaluation immediately.

How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?

The most common diagnostic testing procedure for carotid artery disease is carotid ultrasound, a simple noninvasive procedure that produces pictures of your neck arteries. This test can show whether you have atherosclerosis. 

How is carotid artery disease treated?

Treatment of carotid artery disease depends on the severity of your atherosclerosis. The most common procedure for carotid artery disease is carotid endarterectomy, a surgical procedure to open your artery, remove plaque, and repair it.  

If you're not a good candidate for carotid endarterectomy, you may need angioplasty, in which a small balloon widens your artery from within. Following, you'll normally have a mesh stent to keep the artery open.

If you recently had a stroke, or if you have symptoms of carotid artery disease, Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group offers comprehensive care to help you recover. Book your appointment by calling the office in your area or clicking on the online scheduling tool.