Are larger carotid artery plaques more dangerous and smaller ones safer?

Some patients are found to have carotid artery plaques during physical examinations, and they can't help but wonder: "Are the larger the plaque, the more dangerous it is, and the smaller the plaque, the safer it is?" Let's listen to what Professor Zhang Yan, a famous Chinese medicine doctor in Liaoning Province, says!

Professor Zhang Yan said: The size of the carotid plaque is not the only factor that determines its risk. The size of the carotid plaque is only one indicator. Other factors need to be considered, such as the stability of the plaque, whether it causes vascular stenosis, the patient's age, lifestyle and medical history.

Generally speaking, the larger the carotid plaque, the higher the risk of vascular stenosis and thrombosis. However, small plaques are not necessarily completely safe. Under the premise that the plaque does not cause severe stenosis of the inner diameter of the carotid artery, doctors tend to pay more attention to the nature of the plaque, not necessarily the size of the plaque. The nature of the plaque refers to whether the plaque is stable and whether it is a "vulnerable plaque." If the plaque is an unstable plaque, it means that the plaque is more likely to rupture, bleed, and form a blood clot, and has a higher risk of causing a stroke, leading to more serious consequences; although some plaques are large, they are stable plaques, and the risk of causing adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events is lower.

It is important to take comprehensive treatment measures for carotid plaques, including drug therapy, lifestyle changes, and control of risk factors.

1. Conventional drug treatment:

For most carotid plaques, the treatment should be based on lipid-lowering drugs. The use of lipid-lowering drugs helps prevent the formation of new plaques, stabilize existing plaques, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. In addition, antiplatelet drugs are also widely used to prevent thrombosis. Some traditional Chinese medicines have been found to have certain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and plaque-stabilizing effects through pharmacological studies, and can also be used to stabilize plaques. When treating carotid plaques, the specific situation of the patient needs to be considered, and it is recommended to go to the hospital to obtain personalized treatment plans and suggestions.

2. Improve your lifestyle:

For example, eating a light diet, exercising properly, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can promote blood circulation and lower blood lipids, which can help alleviate the symptoms of carotid artery plaques and slow down their progression. In addition, maintaining a good mental health state is also beneficial to overall health.

3. Control risk factors:

If you suffer from high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity and other diseases that are prone to plaque formation, you should actively seek treatment under the guidance of a doctor to avoid further development of the disease.

Professor Zhang Yan, chief physician, second-level professor, doctoral supervisor, the sixth and seventh batch of mentor teachers of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a famous Chinese medicine doctor in Liaoning Province, enjoys the State Council subsidy, has been engaged in clinical, scientific research and teaching work for 40 years, was hired by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a "National Science Popularization Expert" and was awarded the title of "National Science and Technology Star" by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Main indications: Traditional Chinese medicine conditioning for hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, arrhythmia, post-PCI surgery, metabolic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, cor pulmonale and sub-healthy people.