Carotid artery stenosis occurs when a blockage in the carotid arteries stops or limits blood and oxygen flowing into the brain. This can be due to a clot or, more likely, atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries.
There are other causes, but most of them involve blood clots from another region of the body or plaque buildup and plaque fragments from the walls of the carotid arteries themselves.
A stroke due to brain damage (which happens fast – brain cells will die within minutes without oxygen) is the worst outcome, and death can be the result.
This post will discuss clots and plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) and explain how you can improve your carotid artery health.
Carotid Artery:
The Carotid artery is not a simple artery that goes up your neck and into your brain. It is more like a tree with branches that spread out to other places, like your face and neck, along the way.
To keep things simple, however, we are going to assume that the carotid artery is like a direct bloodline to the brain, with some blood sharing along the way.
We will mention briefly the branching of the carotid artery, where it splits off and supplies blood to the face and neck.
There is a carotid artery on each side of your head, which presnts a pulse when someone wants to see if you are still alive.
Clots:
Blood clots are not simple, and the clotting process is complex. Blood clotting is a way of keeping you from bleeding to death, and without clotting abilities (hemophilia), one can bleed to death from a serious cut or internal bleeding.
The opposing conditions Hypercoagulable States increase one’s tendency to create clots.
Both of these conditions are serious and require medical care.
For normal “clotters,” blood clots usually (but not always) form from two sources: internal or external tissue damage and blood “pooling.”
Most of the time one’s body dissolves renegade clots. Sometimes, however, clots make their way to organs and inhibit blood flow. This is what happens when clots cause strokes. Unless they are dissolved (and they usually are), they will make it to a narrow point where they can’t pass, and stop or inhibit blood flow around them.
This can happen anywhere in your body, but in the brain, it passes through the carotid artery (usually) and eventually gets stuck, causing a stroke. A typical place for this to happen is in an arterial branch junction.
Managing clots:
First of all, we must understand that clots are a normal and necessary part of human physiology. Like most other health-related matters, one can actually manage clotting with lifestyle modifications.
- Stop smoking. I shouldn’t really have to say this, so stop.
- Get your weight under control per the BMI scale.
- Exercise regularly to prevent blood pooling and improve vascularization.
- Stay hydrated to keep your blood thinned – dehydration sets the stage for clotting.
- Don’t sit for long periods. Get up and walk around at least once an hour.
- Manage your blood pressure as close to 120/80 (or less) as possible.
The idea is to keep your blood circulating and not stagnating. Blood has a natural tendency to coagulate when it’s not moving. Staying active is usually sufficient to prevent this.
Compression stockings can also prevent blood from filling veins in your lower legs and forming a clot. In some cases, you might need a prescription for these, but mostly, you can get them over the counter. Ask your healthcare provider for guidance on this.
Atherosclerosis:
This is a little more complex than clotting. Before going any further, you might want to review this article.
For atherosclerosis, think of a water pipe with a thick scale on its inside, so thick that it allows only a small amount of water through; not even close to the amount a clean pipe of the same diameter would allow.
Over time, and with other contributing factors, this happens to your arteries. It can be bad enough to “starve” some of your organs for blood, including your brain.
Pieces of this corrosive plaque can also break loose and form a clot that can damage your brain.
Here’s good news: your carotid arteries are the primary source of blood for your brain, and they can be examined for atherosclerotic buildup and impending blockages (particularly around the branches).
What to do:
Fortunately, an ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries is quick, simple, and non-invasive. This takes about an hour and can be done in many doctor’s offices.
I strongly recommend that everyone reading this post ask their healthcare provider for this test.
Fortunately, carotid artery disease is treatable. Blockages can be corrected surgically, and blood thinners can be prescribed to alleviate symptoms from plaque buildup.
As I always say, be safe, don’t be sorry.
OMY1
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