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The most devastating complication of carotid artery disease, or neurovascular, is stroke. A stroke usually occurs when the flow of oxygen rich blood to the brain is suddenly interrupted. There are two types of stroke:
- Ischemic stroke, caused by the blockage of an artery to the brain
- Hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a sudden rupture of a brain artery, leading to bleeding into or around the brain.
- Both forms of stroke may result in permanent brain damage or even death.
What are the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke?
If you or a friend experience symptoms of a stroke, it is important to call 911 and receive immediate treatment in an emergency department.
Be aware of the following symptoms and signs of stroke:
- Difficulty feeling or moving on one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking or understanding others
- Temporary or permanent loss of vision in one eye, or partial loss of vision in both eyes
- Dizziness or extreme lightheadedness
How is a stroke prevented?
You are at increased risk of stroke if you smoke tobacco or suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity or other evidence of atherosclerotic arterial disease. The best way to prevent stroke is to identify these risk factors and to treat them. This can be done through a simple risk assessment examination.
If you are found to be at high risk for stroke, your physician may arrange for you to undergo additional testing, including:
- Carotid Duplex Scan (ultrasound)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac echocardiography
- CT angiography
- Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
All of the above tests are available at The Christ Hospital Vascular Center.
If you are found to suffer from a blockage of your carotid arteries (an artery in the neck that is the major blood supply to the brain), you may benefit from either carotid artery surgery or carotid artery stenting. Our multidisciplinary stroke prevention team provides a full range of state-of-the-art treatment options for patients at risk for stroke from carotid artery disease. Our Stroke Prevention Team physicians have been recognized as leaders in the treatment of carotid artery disease, and have been chosen to participate in multiple national and international research trials.
Vascular screenings are available to diagnosis vascular disease. For more information about these screenings or to receive a referral to a vascular specialist, call 513-585-1000.
The following physicians treat carotid artery disease:
Note:
Endovascular repair is a minimally-invasive option for treatment of vascular disease. The decision to treat a patient by endovascular procedure versus surgical procedure is made on a case by case basis. Vascular physicians at The Christ Hospital, both endovascular and surgical, work together to determine the best treatment plan for you.