Carotid artery disease treatment / Carotid Endarterectomy cost in India

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Carotid Artery

Carotid arteries are major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain, neck, and face. There are two carotid arteries, one on the right and one on the left. In the neck, each carotid artery branches into two divisions:

• The internal carotid artery supplies blood to the brain.
• The external carotid artery supplies blood to the face and neck.

Carotid artery disease occurs when a blockage in one or both of these arteries decreases the amount of blood flow to your brain. This can lead to a stroke.

Causes of Carotid artery Disease

Carotid artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis, it is a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries. A similar buildup occurs in the heart’s blood vessels when someone has coronary artery disease. Plaque contains clumps of: 

• Cholesterol
• Fat
• Cellular waste
• Protein
• Calcium

Atherosclerosis can make your carotid arteries narrower and less flexible over time. This limits the amount of blood flow to your organs.

Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.
• Physical inactivity contributes to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
• Smoking can irritate the lining of your arteries. It can also increase your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Older age makes your arteries stiffer and more susceptible to damage.

Symptoms

• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs (usually on one side of the body)
• Trouble speaking (garbled speech) or understanding
• Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes
• Dizziness
• Sudden, severe headache
• Drooping on one side of your face

Diagnosis

• Carotid ultrasound- This noninvasive test uses sound waves to measure the flow and pressure of blood in your vessels.
• CT angiography- This is a way to take X-ray images of your vessels. A dye calledcontrast is placed in your vessels. The CT scanner then takes pictures from several angles. 
• Head CT scan- A head CT scan takes pictures of your brain tissue to check for any bleeding or abnormalities.
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) - An MRA also uses contrast to highlight arteries in your neck and brain. Then, 3-D images are taken using a high-powered magnet.
• MRI scan- A head MRI takes detailed images of brain tissue without using contrast.
• Cerebral angiography- For cerebral angiography, doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into your carotid artery. Dye will be injected, and then an X-ray will be taken to view any abnormalities. This test is more invasive than the other forms of imaging, making it riskier.

Treatment

Doctor will suggest you make preventive lifestyle changes. These include:

• Quitting smoking if you smoke
• Exercising regularly
• Eating healthy food
• Managing any chronic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes
• taking medications as prescribed

Treatment is more invasive if you diagnosed of carotid artery disease after having a stroke. Your doctor may need to open your carotid artery to remove the blockage. There are two different ways to do this.

• Carotid endarterectomy is the most common form of surgery for severe carotid artery disease. After your anesthesiologist gives you local or general anesthesia, your doctor will make an incision on the front of your neck. They’ll open your carotid artery and remove any blockages. Your doctor will then stitch the artery closed. This procedure can have a lasting effect on preventing strokes.
• A carotid artery stent is the other option. Your doctor will use a carotid artery stent if the blockage is inconveniently located, you have a large blockage, or you have other serious health problems that make you a high-risk surgical candidate. A stent is a small wire coil. In this procedure, your doctor uses a balloon to widen a narrowed section of the artery. They then place a stent inside to keep the artery open.
• Long-term outlook for carotid artery disease- Your long-term outlook will depend on the extent of your disease. However, there are things you can do to improve your health. These include:

1. Regularly checking your blood pressure
2. Testing your blood sugar and cholesterol levels one to two times per year
3. Taking a yearly carotid Doppler ultrasound test (if you’ve had a prior stroke), which is a short, painless test that allows your doctor to see the blood flow through your carotid arteries

If you have any related query, you can send us your report on below mention email address or you can call us or whatsApp for any second opinion.

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