DiagnosisThere are a variety of tools for diagnosing carotid artery disease. Your doctor may be able to diagnose it using a stethoscope during a normal checkup. But this method can produce false negatives, meaning you may have the disease even if your doctor does not detect it. It can also make your blockage seem more severe than it really is.
There are other diagnostic tools:
Doppler ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to check blood flow and measure artery thickness.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography uses magnetic fields to generate a picture of your arteries.
Oculoplethysmography measures the arteries’ pulsation
Various methods can be used to x-ray the carotid arteriesIf you have a stroke, go to the emergency room immediately. With modern treatments, many people who are treated early for their stroke can have an almost complete recovery.
Treatment options for carotid artery disease include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery. You should also find out if you have heart rhythm or circulation problems that could increase your risk, and treat those problems. Quitting smoking, lowering the amount of cholesterol and salt in your diet, exercising and losing weight can help. Limit your alcohol intake to one to two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. You can also take blood thinning medications or aspirin. If you have to take these medications, you will probably take them for the rest of your life. There are also procedures and surgery to open your arteries. For carotid angioplasty, a balloon catheter is used to flatten plaque blockages, and a small metal device called a stent is placed in the artery to keep it open. Carotid endarterectomy actually removes the plaque. The surgeon makes an incision in the neck, at the location of the blockage. A tube is temporarily inserted to reroute blood flow while the surgeon removes the plaque.
