Carotid artery plaques found in physical examination? After getting the report, look at these 3 indicators first

Recently, many of my friends came to me worriedly after their physical examinations: "The physical examination said that I have carotid artery plaques. What should I do? Will there be big problems suddenly?" Today, let's talk about carotid artery plaques to help everyone feel more at ease!

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What is carotid plaque?

The carotid artery is a "traffic artery" connecting the head and the body. As people age, many middle-aged and elderly people are prone to "trouble" on this "traffic artery" - carotid artery plaques.

According to a study by The Lancet, nearly 2 billion people worldwide are affected by carotid atherosclerosis, including 270 million in China. More than 40% of people over 40 have carotid plaques, and almost everyone over 60 is not immune.

This plaque is like "garbage" accumulated on the walls of blood vessels. As it accumulates more and more, it will not only cause the blood vessels to narrow and affect blood supply to the brain, but in severe cases it will rupture and fall off, and may also cause cerebral infarction. No wonder everyone is so worried.

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Don’t panic! When you get your medical report, look at these 3 indicators first

1. Echo type: Plaques with strong echo or equal echo are like "hard stones" and are stable in nature; plaques with mixed echo are a bit "restless" and may rupture; soft plaques with low echo are the most dangerous, like "tofu cubes", and have the risk of bleeding, so special attention must be paid.

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2. Blood flow rate : A fast blood flow rate means that the plaque has severely blocked the blood vessels, just like the road is blocked by a big rock and the car can only speed up to squeeze through, so the risk is high at this time.

3. Carotid artery media thickness (IMT): Normally, it is less than 1.0 mm. If it exceeds 1.5 mm, it means there is plaque. Moreover, for every 0.1 mm increase in IMT, the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke will increase by 15% and 18% respectively.

How to intervene?

Hearing this, some people may despair: "Will this plaque only get worse?" Carotid artery plaque is not a terminal illness. With proper intervention, it can shrink or even disappear. Studies have found that if low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is controlled below 2.0mmol/L, most plaques will no longer continue to grow; if it can be further controlled to 1.5mmol/L, those lipid-rich plaques will slowly "shrink".

You can start with your lifestyle habits. In terms of diet, eat less high-cholesterol foods such as red meat and full-fat dairy products, and eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and vegetable oils to "deep clean" your blood vessels. Quit smoking and drinking as soon as possible . Smoking will increase triglycerides and reduce "good cholesterol". Alcohol will stimulate the body and allow cholesterol to "set up camp" on the blood vessel walls, causing atherosclerosis. Exercise is also important. Do aerobic exercise for half an hour 3-5 days a week, such as brisk walking, jogging, Tai Chi, and square dancing. They are all good choices.

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For those who already have "three highs", strict control is necessary. Statins can both lower blood lipids and stabilize plaques. If the degree of carotid artery stenosis reaches 50%, statins should be used immediately to control LDL-C below 1.8mmol/L. Antiplatelet therapy can also help reduce the risk of plaque rupture and thrombosis. Blood pressure and blood sugar should also be controlled well, with blood pressure maintained at <140/90mmHg. Controlling glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients below 7.0% can greatly reduce the chance of plaque formation.