Several major dangers of carotid artery stenosis, these four must-reads!

Carotid stenosis, as a cerebrovascular disease, has not received enough attention for a long time. However, in reality, there are quite a few patients suffering from carotid stenosis, and the scary thing is that many people have carotid stenosis without knowing it, which is very dangerous. In fact, with the increase of age, blood vessels throughout the body may form plates due to the accumulation of garbage, causing stenosis. But among them, the most dangerous is carotid stenosis.

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Carotid artery stenosis can cause very serious consequences, sometimes even life-threatening, and must be taken seriously. Carotid artery stenosis can cause the following major hazards:

1. First, insufficient blood supply to the brain, which may even cause loss of consciousness and inability to speak

The first is insufficient blood supply to the brain. When a plaque appears in the carotid artery, the blood vessel cavity becomes narrower, the blood flow will be greatly reduced, and the blood cannot enter the brain in time, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the brain. If the blood supply to the brain is insufficient, the oxygen and nutrients required for the normal functioning of the brain will also be insufficient, which will cause the patient to be drowsy, have a decreased memory, dizziness, decreased vision, tinnitus, and a lack of concentration. In severe cases, the limbs will become numb and unable to move, and even lose consciousness and speech.

2. Impact on cognitive ability

Secondly, it will affect cognitive ability and cause cognitive decline. Many studies at home and abroad have shown that most patients with carotid artery stenosis will experience varying degrees of decline in exercise, learning, and memory, which will seriously affect the patient's life and work.

The Y-shaped carotid artery is prone to stenosis

3. Ischemic eye lesions, transient vision loss, and visual field loss

Ocular ischemic lesions are also one of the risks that may be caused by carotid artery stenosis. The carotid artery is also a blood vessel that supplies blood to the eye, so carotid artery stenosis can also cause insufficient blood supply to the eye, or even blood reflux in the eye, causing eye lesions. Patients may have symptoms such as monocular involvement, temporary vision loss, and visual field defects.

4. Cerebral infarction, causing paralysis or even death

Carotid artery stenosis can also lead to what is commonly known as cerebral infarction. Once the carotid atherosclerotic plaque falls off, a blood clot will form, which will block the cerebral blood vessels and cause cerebral infarction. Clinical studies have shown that patients with carotid artery stenosis are much more likely to have a stroke than the average person. Cerebral infarction can cause hemiplegia, partial paralysis, or even death, which is terrible for patients and their families.

Therefore, carotid artery stenosis is very dangerous and seriously threatens the life and health of patients. It is necessary to prevent it in advance, check it in time, and treat it as soon as possible after discovery.

Carotid artery stent

The survey shows that the detection rate of carotid artery plaques in people over 40 years old in my country is 41.3%; among middle-aged and elderly people (over 45 years old) who have been diagnosed with stroke or "transient ischemic attack" (i.e. minor stroke), the detection rate of carotid artery sclerosis plaques is as high as 76%.

Generally speaking, the following groups of people should undergo regular carotid artery screening: people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, high blood sugar, a long history of smoking, alcoholism, a history of chronic periodontitis, as well as men over 45 years old and women over 55 years old.