Symptoms such as loss of sensation, muscle weakness, temporary or permanent vision loss, and fainting can have many causes, but carotid artery occlusion is an important one to consider. Undetected vascular blockages can result in serious complications like stroke or paralysis. Liv Hospital Vascular Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ozkara emphasizes the importance of recognizing and treating carotid artery disease to prevent these severe outcomes.
How does it occur?
Carotid artery disease is a major contributor to stroke, alongside heart conditions and brain hemorrhages. It develops when the carotid arteries”large vessels on either side of the neck that supply blood to the brain”become narrowed or blocked. This reduces blood flow to the brain and significantly increases the risk of serious complications such as stroke or paralysis.
What are the causes?
- Tobacco use
- High level of fat and cholesterol in the blood
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar due to insulin resistance or diabetes
- Genetic factors
- Diabetes
What are the symptoms?
Carotid artery disease is a significant cause of stroke, together with heart disease and brain hemorrhage. It occurs when the carotid arteries”major blood vessels on both sides of the neck that deliver blood to the brain”become narrowed or blocked. This reduction in blood flow can dramatically raise the risk of stroke and paralysis.
Can cause paralysis
When the carotid arteries are severely narrowed or blocked, the brain may not receive enough blood. This can cause symptoms such as forgetfulness, dizziness, short-term speech or vision problems, and blackouts. More severe blockages may lead to fainting. The greatest risk is stroke, which occurs when reduced blood flow leaves parts of the brain starved of oxygen. If a blood clot from the blocked carotid artery travels to the brain, it can result in sudden death or permanent major paralysis.
How it is
Lifestyle-nutrition changes: Maintaining a healthy diet and optimal weight is helpful for maintaining the cholesterol levels within the normal range and preventing the development of high blood pressure. Such precautions can prevent the disease and/or its progression.
Medical treatment: Accompanying diseases are treated with risk management; blood thinners and vasodilators are administered.
Interventional treatment: This treatment is performed for carotid arteries that are narrowed but not totally occluded. No interventional treatment is required for occluded carotid artery.
Surgical treatment: If the occluding plaque is required to be removed by endarterectomy method under general, regional or local anesthesia, the surgical treatment includes the expansion of the narrowed carotid artery by using synthetic or autologous patches, or the direct closure if the diameter is sufficient.
Interventional radiological treatment: Stent method is being used for the occlusion of neck vessels. This method is only applicable for a select patient group or in cases where operation cannot be performed for other reasons because short-term results published for this method do not present any advantage over surgery and no long-term results have been obtained yet.
* Liv Hospital Editorial Board has contributed to the publication of this content .
* Contents of this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The content of this page does not include information on medicinal health care at Liv Hospital .