Carotid (cervical vein) is the main vein that carries blood to the brain. Ischemic stroke, caused by stenosis caused by fat accumulation or clot formation in the vascular wall, is an important public health problem because it causes long-term disability and is the third leading cause of death. The risk of stroke or transient ischemic attacks increases with age. Major risk factors for stroke:
1- hypertension
2- high cholesterol
3- smoking
4- diabetes
p>5- family history
6- high age
7- obesity
8- sleep apnea
9- sedentary-sports-free life
Carotid (cervical carotid artery) artery stenosis often progresses insidiously without any symptoms, and only in advanced stenosis does it manifest itself with stroke or transient ischemic attack. Situations such as sudden loss of strength in the arms and legs, difficulty in speaking and understanding, blurred vision, nausea and loss of balance are conditions that can be seen in stroke-transient ischemic attack caused by carotid artery stenosis. Patients usually consult a doctor in case of stroke, but since transient ischemic attacks spontaneously regress within 24 hours at most, they are often neglected by patients. If the neurological abnormality mentioned above occurs, a doctor should be consulted, even if this condition is temporary.
It is also possible to diagnose carotid stenosis without having a stroke or temporary attack. A great amount of information about carotid stenosis can be obtained through Doppler examination, especially in people with known heart disease and the risk factors mentioned above. Angiography images obtained by tomography or MRI also provide us with serious information in diagnosis. After the diagnosis of the disease, treatment processes need to be evaluated. The main purpose of the treatment of Carotid artery stenosis is to protect the person from stroke. What to do if mild to moderate vascular stenosis is detected:
1- Changing your lifestyle: quitting smoking, losing weight, changing eating habits, reducing the amount of salt consumed and regular exercise. It is important to control these factors, which are also effective in the formation of the disease. It is one of the most important elements of blood flow.
If the carotid stenosis is severe, it is necessary to use other methods that will remove the obstacle to blood flow;
1- Carotid endarterectomy, is a method of surgically reaching the vein through an incision in the neck, opening the vein and cleaning the calcifications-plaques that cause the blockage inside.
2- Carotid stenting,The carotid veins are usually accessed by entering from the groin. After the stenosis, a protective umbrella (filter) is placed and then the stent is placed in the stenosis area. (metal cage) is placed. This placed metal cage ensures the patency of the vein. After treatment with this method, patients are recommended to use blood thinners.
As a result, carotid stenosis is an important disease that can be seen together with diseases such as heart disease, blood pressure and diabetes and can cause stroke. . Different treatment methods can be used depending on the degree of stenosis.
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