What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your neck

Q: How do you unblock an artery in your neck?

The most common way to do that is with a surgery called carotid endarterectomy.” Its performed by making an incision along the front of the neck, opening the carotid artery and removing the plaque.

What is carotid artery disease?

Table of Contents Show

What is carotid artery disease?
What causes carotid artery disease?
Who is at risk for carotid artery disease?
What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?
How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?
How is carotid artery disease treated?
Lifestyle changes
What are the complications of carotid artery disease?
Can carotid artery disease be prevented?
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Key points about carotid artery disease
Does your neck hurt when your carotid artery is blocked?
Can you feel if your carotid artery is blocked?
How do you unblock an artery in your neck?
Which side of neck is carotid artery?

The carotid arteries are the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to your brain. The most common cause of carotid artery disease is a build-up of plaque in the carotid arteries. This is the same type of plaque that forms in the heart and causes heart attacks. In rare cases, carotid artery may narrow due to inflammation.

Up to 3% of individuals older than 65 have carotid artery disease. Your risk increases as you age, and is heightened if you have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease. Carotid stenosis is responsible for up to one-third of all strokes. Stroke causes 1 in every 15 deaths. About 700,000 strokes occur every year, usually in men.

What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?

Most people with carotid artery disease, even with severe blockage, experience no symptoms. The first signs of carotid artery disease may be a stroke, mini-stroke or TIA symptoms, such as weakness or numbness on one side of your body. You may also experience slurred speech or facial drooping. Very rarely, carotid artery disease may cause ringing in the ears or fainting due to decreased blood flow to the brain. Neck pain is not a symptom of carotid artery disease.

How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?

Routine physical exams include the physician using a stethoscope to listen to your heart and certain blood vessels. A whistling sound or “bruit” coming from the carotid artery may indicate plaque is building up inside the artery and lead your doctor to recommend you see a vascular surgeon. It may also be detected during an eye examination if your doctor detects a plaque in the artery that supplies the retina.

A vascular surgeon will ask questions about symptoms and medical history, including questions about family members and perform a physical exam. Diagnostic testing may be ordered to evaluate the carotid arteries for disease.

The most common and non-invasive diagnostic test is a carotid artery duplex scan that uses two kinds of ultrasound. The test can determine whether the artery is narrowing and if so, provide an accurate estimate of severity. Alternative radiological tests are sometimes used to determine the presence and degree of any narrowing. These include a computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or angiogram.

How is carotid artery disease treated?

Treatment for carotid artery disease is given to reduce the possibility of stroke or recurrence of stroke. Specifics depend on the degree of artery narrowing.

MEDICATION, often a combination of medications, can help slow the progression of carotid artery disease. Aspirin, and medications that lower your cholesterol and blood pressure are commonly prescribed when the degree of narrowing is less than 50-60%. Medications may need to be adjusted as the disease progresses.
SMOKING CESSATION is important for managing carotid artery disease and for your overall health.
SURGERY may be recommended. If the degree of narrowing is more than 60%, in addition to medication you may benefit from a carotid endarterectomy.

How can I prevent carotid artery disease?

Here are ways to slow the progression of carotid artery disease:

Ask your vascular surgeon about medications that may help control the disease, including medications that can reduce your blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and make your blood less sticky.
Following a healthy diet and eat in moderation.
Exercise safely and more frequently through non-strenuous activity, such as walking.
If you smoke, work with your vascular surgeon to find a smoking cessation program that will work for you.

What is carotid artery disease?

The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the brain. When these arteries become narrowed, it’s called carotid artery disease. It may also be called carotid artery stenosis. The narrowing is caused by atherosclerosis. This is the buildup of fatty substances, calcium, and other waste products inside the artery lining. Carotid artery disease is similar to coronary artery disease, in which buildup occurs in the arteries of the heart and can cause a heart attack.

Carotid artery disease reduces the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen to work. Even a brief pause in blood supply can cause problems. Brain cells start to die after just a few minutes without blood or oxygen. If the narrowing of the carotid arteries becomes severe enough that blood flow is blocked, it can cause a stroke. If a piece of plaque breaks off it can also block blood flow to the brain. This too can cause a stroke.

What causes carotid artery disease?

Atherosclerosis causes most carotid artery disease. In this condition, fatty deposits build up along the inner layer of the arteries forming plaque. The thickening narrows the arteries and decreases blood flow or completely blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

Who is at risk for carotid artery disease?

Risk factors associated with atherosclerosis include:

Older age
Male
Family history
Race
Genetic factors
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Overweight
Diet high in saturated fat
Lack of exercise

Although these factors increase a person's risk, they do not always cause the disease. Knowing your risk factors can help you make lifestyle changes and work with your doctor to reduce chances you will get the disease.

What are the symptoms of carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease may have no symptoms. Sometimes, the first sign of the disease is a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a sudden, temporary loss of blood flow to an area of the brain. It usually lasts a few minutes to an hour. Symptoms go away entirely within 24 hours, with complete recovery. When symptoms persist, it is a stroke. Symptoms of a TIA or stroke may include:

Sudden weakness or clumsiness of an arm or leg on one side of the body
Sudden paralysis of an arm or leg on one side of the body
Loss of coordination or movement
Confusion, decreased ability to concentrate, dizziness, fainting, or headache
Numbness or loss of feeling in the face or in an arm or leg
Temporary loss of vision or blurred vision
Inability to speak clearly or slurred speech

If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, call for medical help right away. A TIA may be a warning sign that a stroke is about to occur. TIAs do not precede all strokes, however.

The symptoms of a TIA and stroke are the same. A stroke is loss of blood flow (ischemia) to the brain that continues long enough to cause permanent brain damage. Brain cells begin to die after just a few minutes without oxygen.

The disability that occurs from stroke depends on the size and location of the brain that suffered loss of blood flow. This may include problems with:

Moving
Speaking
Thinking
Remembering
Bowel and bladder function
Eating
Emotional control
Other vital body functions

Recovery also depends on the size and location of the stroke. A stroke may result in long-term problems, such as weakness in an arm or leg. It may cause paralysis, loss of speech, or even death.

The symptoms of carotid artery disease may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always see your doctor for a diagnosis.

How is carotid artery disease diagnosed?

Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for carotid artery disease may include:

Listening to the carotid arteries. For this test, your doctor places a stethoscope over the carotid artery to listen for a sound called a bruit (pronounced brew-ee). This sound is made when blood passes through a narrowed artery. A bruit can be a sign of atherosclerosis. But, an artery may be diseased without producing this sound.
Carotid artery duplex scan. This test is done to assess the blood flow of the carotid arteries. A probe called a transducer sends out ultrasonic sound waves. When the transducer (like a microphone) is placed on the carotid arteries at certain locations and angles, the ultrasonic sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the blood vessels, where the waves echo off of the blood cells. The transducer sends the waves to an amplifier, so the doctor can hear the sound waves. Absence of or faintness of these sounds may mean blood flow is blocked.
MRI scan. This procedure uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequency energy, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures in the body. For this test, you lie inside a big tube while magnets pass around your body. It’s very loud.
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This procedure uses magnetic resonance technology (MRI) and intravenous (IV) contrast dye to make the blood vessels visible. Contrast dye causes blood vessels to appear solid on the MRI image so the doctor can see them.
Computed tomography angiography (CTA). This test uses X-rays and computer technology along with contrast dye to make horizontal, or axial, images (often called slices) of the body. A CTA shows pictures of blood vessels and tissues and is helpful in identifying narrowed blood vessels.
Angiography. This test is used to assess the how blocked the carotid arteries are by taking X-ray images while a contrast dye is injected. The contrast dye helps the doctor see the shape and flow of blood through the arteries as X-ray images are made.

How is carotid artery disease treated?

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:

How old you are
Your overall health and medical history
How sick you are
How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
How long the condition is expected to last
Your opinion or preference

If a carotid artery is less than 50% narrowed, it is often treated with medicine and lifestyle changes. If the artery is between 50% and 70% narrowed, medicine or surgery may be used, depending on your case.

Medical treatment for carotid artery disease may include:

Lifestyle changes

Quit smoking. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk for carotid artery disease and cardiovascular disease. All nicotine products, including electronic cigarettes, constrict the blood vessels. This decreases blood flow through the arteries.
Lower cholesterol. Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Eat plenty of vegetables, lean meats (avoid red meats), fruits, and high-fiber grains. Avoid foods that are processed, and high in saturated and trans-fats. When diet and exercise are not enough to control cholesterol, you may need medicines.
Lower blood sugar. High blood sugar (glucose) can cause damage and inflammation to the lining of the carotid arteries. Control glucose levels through a low-sugar diet, and regular exercise. If you have diabetes, you may need medicine or other treatment.
Exercise. Lack of exercise can cause weight gain and raise blood pressure and cholesterol. Exercise can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce risks for carotid artery disease.
Lower blood pressure. High blood pressure causes wear and tear and inflammation in blood vessels increasing the risk for artery narrowing. Blood pressure should be below 140/90 for most people. People with diabetes may need even lower blood pressure.

Medicines

Medicines that may be used to treat carotid artery disease include:

Antiplatelets. These medicines make platelets in the blood less able to stick together and cause clots. Aspirin, clopidogrel, and dipyridamole are examples of antiplatelet medicines.
Cholesterol-lowering medicines. Statins are a group of cholesterol-lowering medicines. They include simvastatin and atorvastatin. Studies have shown that certain statins can decrease the thickness of the carotid artery wall and increase the size of the opening of the artery.
Blood pressure-lowering medicines. Several different medicines work to lower blood pressure.

If a carotid artery is narrowed from 50% to 69%, you may need more aggressive treatment, especially if you have symptoms.

Surgery is usually advised for carotid narrowing of more than 70%. Surgical treatment decreases the risk for stroke after symptoms such as TIA or minor stroke.

Surgical treatment of carotid artery disease includes:

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This is surgery to remove plaque and blood clots from the carotid arteries. Endarterectomy may help prevent a stroke in people who have symptoms and a narrowing of 70% or more.
Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS). This is an option for people who are unable to have carotid endarterectomy. It uses a very small hollow tube, or catheter, that is thread through a blood vessel in the groin to the carotid arteries. Once the catheter is in place, a balloon is inflated to open the artery and a stent is placed. A stent is a thin, metal-mesh framework used to hold the artery open.

What are the complications of carotid artery disease?

The main complication of carotid artery disease is stroke. Stroke can cause serious disability and may be fatal.

Can carotid artery disease be prevented?

You can prevent or delay carotid artery disease in the same way that you would prevent heart disease. This includes:

Diet changes. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats such as poultry and fish, and low-fat or non-fat dairy products, Limit your intake of salt, sugar, processed foods, saturated fats, and alcohol.
Exercise. Aim for 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous-level physical activity at least 3 to 4 days per week.
Manage weight. If you are overweight, take steps to lose weight.
Quit smoking. If you smoke, break the habit. Enroll in a stop-smoking program to improve your chances of success. Ask your doctor about prescription options.
Control stress. Learn to manage stress in your home and work life.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Learn the symptoms of stroke and have your family members also learn them. If you think you are having symptoms of a stroke, call 911 immediately.

Key points about carotid artery disease

Carotid artery disease is narrowing of the carotid arteries. These arteries deliver oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain.
Narrowing of the carotid arteries can cause a stroke or symptoms of a stroke and should be treated right away.
Eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet that is high in vegetables, lean meats, fruits, and high fiber is one way to reduce the risk of carotid disease. Exercise, quitting smoking, blood pressure control, and medicine can also help.
Opening the carotid arteries once they are narrowed can be done with a surgery or with angioplasty and a stent.
Carotid artery disease may not have symptoms, but if you have significant risk factors, see your healthcare provider for screening and diagnosis.

Does your neck hurt when your carotid artery is blocked?

Your neck may feel tender in the area of the artery. The pain often goes up the neck to the jaw, ear, or forehead. Some diseases can cause carotidynia. Your doctor will check for those.

Can you feel if your carotid artery is blocked?

Carotid artery disease often does not cause symptoms until the blockage or narrowing is severe. One sign may be a bruit (whooshing sound) that your doctor hears when listening to your artery with a stethoscope.

How do you unblock an artery in your neck?

The most common way to do that is with a surgery called “carotid endarterectomy.” It's performed by making an incision along the front of the neck, opening the carotid artery and removing the plaque.

Which side of neck is carotid artery?

Overview. There are four carotid arteries, with a pair located on each side of the neck. This includes the right- and left-internal carotid arteries, and the right- and left-external carotid arteries. The carotid arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood from the heart to both the head and brain.