Health Matters: Lifesaving catch; Carotid Artery Disease
Paul Christen quit smoking 32 years ago and exercises on a regular basis. He thought he was doing everything right and had no idea something was wrong.
"I don't think anybody's aware of their arteries being blocked up and cause there's no sign."
Turns out he had major blockage of his carotid artery. Located on both sides of the neck under the jaw line, they supply blood to the brain.
"I found that I had an 80% blockage in the carotid artery and it was actually doctor Taschner that found it," says Paul.
Paul went to a cardiologist to manage his blood pressure.
"We always work on primary prevention and secondary prevention and a lot of the treatments are the same. Monitoring patients early for things like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol we evaluate their family history their smoking history so a lot of these traditional risk factors," says Dr. Brian Taschner Cardiologist with Lee Memorial Health System.
It was the series of screenings and tests that uncovered a hidden ailment. Paul had several risk factors for carotid artery disease which put him at risk for stroke.
"A stroke is when there is a sudden occlusion or clotting up of an artery in the brain, and when that suddenly happens, the part of the brain that receives blood supply from the artery then gets damaged. Cholesterol plaque is not regular and that irregular surface of the will then lead itself to making blood clots formation can start a stroke," says Dr. Nima Mowzoon Neurologist with Lee Memorial Health System.
Treatments vary, from using diet to control blood pressure and cholesterol to blood thinning medications. And in cases like Paul's, surgery to remove plaque and restore proper blood flow. He hates to think what could have happened, if he hadn't been tested.
"A year from now or two years or whatever I may not be around. It's always good to have to get checked up."
Taking good care of yourself, is no accident.
Blocked Carotid Artery - News
"I don't think anybody's aware of their arteries being blocked up and cause there's no sign." Turns out he had major blockage of his carotid artery. Located on both sides of the neck under the jaw line, they supply blood to the brain.
A procedure to clear a severely blocked carotid artery in people who are asymptomatic and high-risk, for example, reduces the likelihood of having a stroke within five years by only about 5 percent, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force.
These brain stents are a smaller version of the balloon angioplasty commonly used to keep heart arteries open. They also help keep carotid arteries in the neck open. The brain stents work in the same way, helping keep a previously blocked artery in the
Ultrasound can also detect blocked blood vessels. Carotid artery (stroke) visualizes the buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries that can lead to stroke. Abdominal aortic aneurysm visualizes an existence of an aneurysm in the abdominal aorta that
Surgical interventions such as stenting where a stent is threaded from an artery in the groin up to the narrowed carotid artery and then deployed, and carotid endarterectomy, where the blocked artery is opened and the plaque cleaned out,
Carotid Artery Plaque Treatment
The illustration shows the process of carotid endarterectomy. Figure A shows a carotid artery that has plaque buildup. The inset image shows a cross-section of the narrowed carotid artery. Figure B shows how the carotid artery is cut and the plaque removed. Figure C shows the artery stitched up and normal blood flow restored. The inset image shows a cross-section of the artery with plaque removed and normal blood flow restored. The illustration shows the process of carotid endarterectomy. Figure A shows a carotid artery that has plaque buildup. The inset image shows a cross-section of the narrowed carotid artery. Figure B shows how the carotid artery is cut and the plaque removed. Figure C shows the artery stitched up and normal blood flow restored. The inset image shows a cross-section of the artery with plaque removed and normal blood flow restored. The illustration shows the process of carotid artery stenting. Figure A shows an internal carotid artery that has plaque buildup and reduced blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of the narrowed carotid artery. Figure B shows a stent being placed in the carotid artery to support the inner artery wall and keep the artery open. Figure C shows normal blood flow restored in the stent-widened artery. The inset image shows a cross-section of the stent-widened artery. The illustration shows the process of carotid artery stenting. Figure A shows an internal carotid artery that has plaque buildup and reduced blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of the narrowed carotid artery. Figure B shows a stent being placed in the carotid artery to support the inner artery wall and keep the artery open. Figure C shows normal blood flow restored in the stent-widened artery. The inset image shows a cross-section of the stent-widened artery.
Blocked Carotid Artery - Bookshelf
Carotid disease, the role of imaging in diagnosis and management
This book offers comprehensive coverage of the pathogenesis and management of carotid disease with specific focus on the role imaging has to play in the early ...Carotid artery stenting, the basics
In Carotid Artery Stenting: The Basics, Jacqueline Saw and a panel of international experts on carotid artery stenting discuss in depth the details of all ...Imaging of Carotid Artery Stenosis
This book covers all facets of imaging in carotid artery stenosis and gives an outlook to future aspects.Coronary Artery CTA, A Case-Based Atlas
Ideal for radiology and cardiology residents, as well as experienced physicians, this text helps the reader arrive at a diagnosis for each clinical problem ...Boston's Central Artery
Drawing on recently uncovered Massachusetts Department of Public Works archives and numerous other sources, Boston's Central Artery tells the story of the ...Information Today Directory
Blocked Carotid Artery
Blocked carotid artery is caused by plaque build up within the arteries. ... When fifty percent or more of the carotid artery is blocked, then surgical option is availed. ...
Symptoms of Blocked Carotid Artery
This is where carotid artery disease begins, and is a leading ... Symptoms of Blocked Carotid Artery. By Kate Aucella. Blood and oxygen are carried to the ...
Blocked Carotid Artery | LIVESTRONG.COM
Blocked Carotid Artery. Lifestyle, fitness & health information about Blocked Carotid Artery. Signs of Blocked Carotid Artery, Options for a Blocked ...
Signs Of A Blocked Carotid Artery | LIVESTRONG.COM
The two carotid arteries--one on either side of the neck--carry blood from the heart to the brain. As with all arteries, the carotids are subject ...
Carotid artery surgery: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
The carotid artery brings needed blood to your brain and face. ... Blood flow in this artery can become partly or totally blocked by fatty material called plaque. ...