What causes carotid artery disease?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:The major arteries of the neck (called the carotid arteries) supply the brain with blood and extend from your aorta in your chest to the brain inside your skull. Carotid artery disease occurs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked. Carotid artery disease is a serious health problem because it can cause a stroke.
It is often unclear why the arteries begin to harden or become blocked. This may occur in some people because they have:
•History of smoking
•High cholesterol
•High blood pressure
•Diabetes
•Family history of hardening of the arteries
•Carotid aneurysm disease
•Fibromuscular dysplasiaThe major arteries of the neck (called the carotid arteries) supply the brain with blood and extend from your aorta in your chest to the brain inside your skull. Carotid artery disease occurs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked. Carotid... More -
Dr. William D. Knopf of Piedmont Heart Institute answered:Carotid artery disease appears to start when damage occurs to the inner layers of the carotid arteries. Major factors that contribute to damage include:
- Smoking
- High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
- High blood pressure
- High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes
When damage occurs, your body starts a healing process. The healing may cause plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged.
Over time, the plaque may crack. Blood cells called platelets stick to the injured lining of the artery and may clump together to form blood clots. These platelet plugs can break away and travel to block small arteries in the brain. This causes a stroke.
This answer from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has been reviewed and/or edited by Dr. William D. Knopf.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulCarotid artery disease appears to start when damage occurs to the inner layers of the carotid arteries. Major factors that contribute to damage include: Smoking High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood High blood pressure High... More -
SCAI answered:As we age, cholesterol and fatty substances build up in our arteries, causing the arteries to narrow and increasing our risk for cardiovascular disease, including both carotid artery disease and coronary artery (heart) disease. The relationship between the two diseases is direct: if you are at risk for heart disease, then you are also at risk for carotid artery disease, and vice versa. While some of the risk factors for carotid artery disease are determined by heredity, others can be managed through lifestyle changes. So, while narrowed arteries, or atherosclerosis, may be a systemic problem throughout your body, lifestyle changes can also result in systemic improvement throughout the body.
Risk factors for carotid artery disease include
- smoking
- age
- high blood pressure
- high LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol level
- heredity
- diabetes
- obesity
- physical inactivity
If you have carotid artery disease or risk factors for the disease, talk to your physician about lifestyle changes, medication, and medical procedures that can help bring the progression of disease under control.
As we age, cholesterol and fatty substances build up in our arteries, causing the arteries to narrow and increasing our risk for cardiovascular disease, including both carotid artery disease and coronary artery (heart) disease. The relationship... More
