Stroke neurologist Carolyn Brockington, MD, explains what carotid artery disease is. Watch this video for important tips and information about the health of your brain.
Well Carotid Artery Disease means that it's a disease or plaque build up of the Carotid, and if you look at your neck, there're two Arteries right here at the beginning that are called Carotid Arteries that bring the majority amount of blood to the brain. So again if you think of it like plumbing, the pipes or the Arteries have to be open to allow blood to get to the brain, and what we've become concerned about is that if the Carotids becomes narrow less blood gets into the brain, and that increases someone's risk of stoke.
So Carotid Artery Diseases means a narrowing of the pipe or in this case the artery, not allowing enough blood to get to the brain and therefore increasing someone's risk of stroke.
There are different types of strokes. Learn what causes strokes, how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, how good nutrition and exercise help prevent strokes, and why immediate treatment is crucial to minimize brain damage from a stroke.
See All Heart Health