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Carotid Artery Disease Can Lead to Stroke
Carotid artery disease, a common vascular disease, is
also one of the most common causes of stroke. In
fact, more than half of the strokes in the United
States occur because of carotid artery disease.¹ It is
the narrowing or blockage of the arteries that are
located on each side of the neck and carry oxygenrich
blood away from the heart to the head and
brain. The process that blocks these arteries (atherosclerosis)
is basically the same as that which causes
both coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial
disease (PAD). The slow build-up of plaque (which
is a deposit of cholesterol, calcium, and other cells in
the artery wall) is caused by high blood pressure,
diabetes, tobacco use, high blood cholesterol, and
other modifiable risk factors. Over time, this narrowing
may eventually become so severe that a blockage
decreases blood flow to the brain and may tragically
cause a stroke. A stroke can also occur if a piece of
plaque or a blood clot breaks off from the wall of the
carotid artery and travels to the smaller arteries of
the brain.
The brain survives on a continuous supply of oxygen
and glucose carried to it by blood. Cells deprived of
fresh blood for more than a few minutes will be
damaged, a condition known as "ischemia," or the
brain cells may die, a condition known as "infarction."
When blood flow to the brain is blocked, the
result is sometimes called "an ischemic event." This
could be a stroke, which is a permanent loss of brain
function, or a "transient ischemic attack" (TIA),
which implies a temporary alteration of brain function.
Brain damage can be permanent if this lack of
blood flow lasts more than three to six hours.
Because of this potential for permanent damage in
only a few hours, it is crucial to seek immediate
medical care if you ever have symptoms of stroke.
Minutes are critical. If you have risk factors for
carotid artery disease, you should talk with your
health care professional about ways to prevent
carotid artery disease and stroke. As you've heard
before, and it is certainly true for stroke, prevention
is the best medicine.
For more information about carotid artery disease, see Keeping in
Circulation, Vol. 3, No. 3, or visit our Web site at www.vdf.org.
- National Stroke Council
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