Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid artery disease is caused by the buildup of a waxy substance called plaque inside the carotid arteries, which are on each side of your neck and deliver blood to your brain and head. This buildup can block blood supply to your brain and increases your risk of stroke.
The goals for treatment of carotid artery disease are to stop the disease from getting worse and to prevent a stroke. Treatments may include lifestyle changes, medications, or medical procedures. It is critically important to stop smoking in order to reduce your risk of complications. If a medical procedure is recommended, your vascular surgeon may use one of two ways to open narrow or blocked carotid arteries: carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery angioplasty and stenting.
Read more about carotid artery disease in our blog.