Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid artery disease refers to a condition in which the major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain become narrowed or blocked, putting a person at risk for a full-blown stroke or transient ischemic attack (what some people refer to as a “mini-stroke”). In cases of severe carotid artery disease, surgery may be required to remove the blockage. Alternatively, the condition can be treated with an angioplasty and stenting procedure – though long-term results of this less-invasive approach are not yet known. A person with carotid artery disease will likely be unaware of it until they experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. Signs of a TIA include feelings of numbness or tingling on one side of the body, an inability to control an arm or leg, sudden loss of vision in one eye, an inability to speak and general weakness.