If you have clogged arteries in your neck or carotid artery disease, you must take steps to treat it properly. If the arteries in the neck become severely clogged, your brain doesn't get the blood and oxygen it needs to function. This puts you at risk for a stroke. Learning about this condition helps you make healthier lifestyle choices and avoid complications.
Lack of Symptoms
According to the Texas Heart Institute: "Although there are no symptoms specific to carotid artery disease, the warning signs of a stroke are a good way to tell if there is a blockage in the carotid arteries." Given this, the best way to know if you have this condition is to talk to your doctor about getting tested. Your physician can listen to your arteries with a stethoscope to pick up sounds that suggest a blocked artery. In some cases, your doctor may hear a rushing or whooshing sound called a bruit. This sound may occur when there is reduced blood flow in the artery. He can also perform an ultrasound or other scan to look for blockages.
TIA
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says signs or symptoms of a blocked artery in the neck may not appear until the artery is severely blocked. When this happens, you may begin to have Transient Ischemic Attacks. TIAs are considered mini strokes. The symptoms are similar to a stroke. However, in the case of a TIA, the symptoms don't last long, and there's usually no permanent damage. If you experience a TIA or notice even minor symptoms of a stroke, see your doctor right away. TIAs are often a warning sign that a stroke will occur.
Stroke
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, "Most people who have carotid artery disease don't have mini-strokes before they have strokes." The Society of Vascular Surgery claims that the symptoms of a stroke are the same as a TIA. However, the event lasts for a few hours, and the effects are still there longer than 24 hours. Symptoms to watch for include weakness, numbness or a tingling sensation--especially on just one side of the body; losing control of movement on one side of the body; vision loss in one eye; paralysis on one side of the face; being unable to speak; or feeling confused.
