In your body you have two major vessels that transport blood to your brain. These are located on the sides of your neck, and they are usually able to transport your blood smoothly and without complications, but if they become blocked or narrowed at all, you will suffer from carotid artery disease and will need to see an expert for medical treatment.
The Symptoms
One of the problems with carotid artery disease is that there are very few symptoms that accompany the onset of this medical problem. One of the most common signs that you have this disease is when you experience a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, which is similar to a stroke. Some of the symptoms of a TIA include difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty controlling an arm or leg, and loss of vision.
Diagnosis
It’s impossible to know if you have carotid artery disease without being diagnosed by a medical professional. Through a series of tests, doctors will be able to determine whether or not you have this disease and how to best treat it.
Treatment
If your doctor diagnoses you with carotid artery disease, then they will begin treatment to prevent you from having a stroke in the future. Some of the treatments that your doctor may recommend include changing your lifestyle, which can involve quitting smoking and exercising more, undergoing surgery to remove your carotid artery or widen it, and even taking prescription medication to help lower your blood pressure or thin your blood.
To ensure that you do not have this disease or that you receive the best possible treatment if you do have it, it’s important to work with a reputable and qualified doctor in your area. Call on the experts at the Vein Center of Louisiana if you have any questions about your health and to see how they can help ensure that you remain as healthy as possible. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates.
