The carotid arteries provide the main blood supply to the brain. There carotid arteries are located on each side of your neck under the jawline.
Carotid artery disease is a condition in which these arteries become narrowed or blocked. When the arteries become narrowed, the condition is called carotid stenosis.
Alternative NamesCarotid stenosis; Stenosis - carotid
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCarotid artery disease occurs when sticky, fatty substances called plaque build up in the inner lining of the arteries. See: Atherosclerosis(hardening of the arteries)
The plaque may slowly block or narrow the carotid artery or cause a clot (thrombus) to form. Clots can lead to stroke.
Risk factors for blockage or narrowing of the arteries include:
Smoking is also a risk factor. Smoking increases the risk of most types of stroke. People who smoke one pack a day have over two times the risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers.
Two uncommon conditions called Marfan syndrome and fibromuscular dysplasia (abnormal growth or development of the cells in the walls of carotid arteries) may also cause narrowing of the carotid arteries.
SymptomsYou may not have any symptoms.
You may have symptoms of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack(TIA). Some of these symptoms include:
Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. The health care provider may hear an abnormal sound called a bruit when using a stethoscope to listen to the blood flow in your neck.
A physical exam may also reveal clots in the blood vessels of the eye. If you have had a stroke or TIA, a neurological exam will reveal other problems.
The following tests may be done:
The following imaging tests may be used to examine the blood vessels in the neck and brain:
Treatment options include:
Surgery, called carotid endarterectomy, to remove the buildup in your carotid arteries may help prevent new strokes from occurring in persons with large blockages in their neck arteries. See: Carotid artery surgery
Expectations (prognosis)Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States. Some people who have a stroke recover most or all of their functions. Others die from the stroke itself or from complications. About half of those who have a stroke have long-term problems.
ComplicationsThe major complication associated with carotid artery disease are:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) as soon as symptoms occur. When having a stroke, every second of delay can result in more brain injury.
PreventionThe following can help prevent a stroke:
Goldstein LB. Prevention and management of stroke. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Saunders;2007:chap 58.
Zivin JA. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 432.
Carotid artery disease is a condition in which the carotid arteries become narrowed or blocked. When the arteries become narrowed, the condition is called carotid stenosis.
The carotid arteries provide the main blood supply to the brain. They are located on each side of your neck. You can feel their pulse under the jawline.
Alternative NamesCarotid stenosis; Stenosis - carotid
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCarotid artery disease occurs when sticky, fatty substances called plaque build up in the inner lining of the arteries. See also: Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
The plaque may slowly block or narrow the carotid artery or cause a clot (thrombus) to form more suddenly. Clots can lead to stroke.
Risk factors for blockage or narrowing of the arteries include:
Two uncommon conditions called Marfan syndrome and fibromuscular dysplasia (abnormal growth or development of the cells in the walls of carotid arteries) may also cause narrowing of the carotid arteries.
SymptomsYou may not have any symptoms of carotid artery disease.
You may have symptoms of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack(TIA). Some of these symptoms include:
Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. The health care provider may hear an abnormal sound called a bruit when using a stethoscope to listen to the blood flow in your neck.
A physical exam may also reveal clots in the blood vessels of the eye. If you have had a stroke or TIA, a nervous system (neurological) exam will reveal other problems.
The following tests may be done:
The following imaging tests may be used to examine the blood vessels in the neck and brain:
Treatment options include:
There are two invasive ways to treat a carotid artery that is narrowed or blocked. These procedures are done to prevent new strokes in people with large blockages.
Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States. Some people who have a stroke recover most or all of their functions. Others die from the stroke itself or from complications. About half of those who have a stroke have long-term problems.
ComplicationsThe major complications with carotid artery disease are:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) as soon as symptoms occur. When having a stroke, every second of delay can result in more brain injury.
PreventionThe following can help prevent a stroke:
Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease.
ReferencesBrott TG, Halperin JL, Abbara S, Bacharach JM, Barr JD, Bush RL, et al. American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: American Stroke Association; American Association of Neuroscience Nurses; American Association of Neurological Surgeons; American College of Radiology; American Society of Neuroradiology; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention; Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions; Society of Interventional Radiology; Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery; Society for Vascular Medicine; Society for Vascular Surgery. 2011 ASA/ACCF/AHA/AANN/AANS/ACR/ASNR/CNS/SAIP/SCAI/SIR/SNIS/SVM/SVS guideline on the management of patients iwth extracranial carotid and vertebral artery disease: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Stroke Association, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery,; Society for Vascular Medicine, and Society for Vascular Surgery. Vasc Med. 2011;16:35-77.
Brott TG, Hobson RW 2nd, Howard G, Roubin GS, Clark WM, Brooks W, et al. Stenting verses endarterectomy for treatment of carotid-artery stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:11-23. Epub 2010 May 26.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/31/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Common causes of carotid artery disease are atherosclerosis, which is a gradual build up of plaque, which restricts blood flow. Plaques consist of calcium, cholesterol, etc.
An aneurysm is a sac-like widening of an artery, usually due to weak artery walls. The carotid artery is an artery in the neck going to the head. An aneurysm in a carotid artery is known as a carotid artery aneurysm.
The negative affects of clogged arteries include coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The external carotid artery.
the carotid artery passes through the carotid canal to the brain
the internal carotid artery
A carotid endarterectomy is performed on those who have suffered a mild stroke because of a carotid artery disease. Depending on the circumstances as well as how extreme the disease is increases the risks of a carotid endarterectomy.
carotid artery.
carotid foramen
carotid
The radial artery, carotid artery, and the brachial artery can be used to feel your pulse; but only if you feel them with your tongue. The easiest to do the radial artery, located in your elbow.
The Carotid pulse is found in the neck. The Radial pulse is found in the wrist.