Attention! These people are easily targeted by carotid artery plaques, which can cause stroke in severe cases!

A few days ago, a 35-year-old friend went for a physical examination. After receiving the report, he was completely panicked because it clearly said "carotid artery plaque" on it.

He immediately called his friend who worked in the hospital, his voice full of anxiety: "What should I do? Am I seriously ill?"

I believe many people have had similar experiences. The unfamiliar terms that appear on the physical examination report can instantly break the peace of life and make people fall into worry and panic.

Today, Pingjiang County First People's Hospital will talk to you about this "carotid artery plaque" that makes people shudder.

The carotid arteries, located on both sides of our neck, are the main channels for blood supply to the brain. Imagine if this lifeline is blocked, the brain will fall into "famine", and the consequences will be disastrous.

However, as we age, some "garbage" will gradually accumulate on the walls of the carotid arteries to form plaques. These plaques are like "time bombs" lurking in the neck. Once they rupture or fall off, they will become one of the culprits of stroke.

1. Carotid plaque: a silent threat

In simple terms, carotid plaque is a mass of lipids, calcium and other substances deposited on the wall of the carotid artery. It is like scale in a water pipe, which accumulates over time, gradually blocks the blood vessels and affects blood flow.

What’s more frightening is that the formation and development of carotid artery plaques are often silent. In the early stages, patients may not have any symptoms until the plaques grow to a certain size or rupture to form blood clots, then symptoms such as dizziness, headache, blurred vision, limb numbness, and even stroke will occur.

2. Who is more likely to be “targeted”?

Carotid artery plaques are not common to everyone. The following groups are more likely to be targeted by it:

People over 40 years old: As we age, blood vessels become less elastic and more likely to form plaques.

✔People with “three highs”: high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar can damage the vascular endothelium and accelerate plaque formation.

✔Smokers: Harmful substances in tobacco can damage blood vessels and promote plaque formation.

✔Obese people: Obesity can lead to metabolic disorders and increase the risk of plaque formation.

✔People who lack exercise: Exercise can promote blood circulation and lower blood lipids, while lack of exercise has the opposite effect.

✔People with a family history: If there is a history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in your family, you should also be vigilant.

3. How to defuse a “time bomb”?

Facing the "time bomb" of carotid artery plaque, we are not helpless. We can take the following measures to effectively prevent it:

A healthy lifestyle: quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, exercising moderately, and controlling weight are the basis for preventing and controlling carotid artery plaques.

Control risk factors: Actively control blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar, monitor them regularly, and keep the indicators within the normal range.

Drug treatment: For plaques that have already formed, you can take statins, antiplatelet drugs, etc. under the guidance of a doctor to stabilize the plaques and prevent thrombosis.

Surgical treatment: For patients with severe plaque stenosis, carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting can be considered to restore vascular patency.

4. Regular physical examinations, early detection and early treatment

Carotid artery plaque is the "invisible killer" of stroke, and its harm cannot be underestimated. However, as long as we are vigilant and perform regular carotid artery ultrasound examinations, we can detect its traces early and take effective measures to "remove" it and protect our lifeline.

Please remember: prevention is better than cure, and a healthy lifestyle is the best way to stay away from carotid artery plaques. Let us start from now on, pay attention to the health of the carotid artery and stay away from the threat of stroke!

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Zhuo Juanjuan, Pingjiang County First People's Hospital

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(Edited by Wx)