![]() ![]() Who should consider carotid artery screening? Screening Recommendations family history of atherosclerosis and/or stroke.Risk factors for carotid artery disease include: Risk FactorsĪnything that increases an individual's chances of developing disease is called a risk factor. ![]() A lack of oxygen and other essential nutrients may cause permanent damage to the brain or death.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of long-term severe disability. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is obstructed by plaque or blood clots, when bits of plaque break free and travel to smaller arteries in the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Left untreated, carotid artery disease increases the risk for stroke. Over time, the walls of affected arteries thicken and become stiff and the blood vessel may also become narrowed (a condition called stenosis), limiting blood flow. This buildup of plaque and the injury it causes is called atherosclerosis. These two blood vessels extend through each side of the neck.Ĭarotid artery disease occurs when plaque (a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances) collects and forms along the walls of the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are the two main arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. An abnormal thickening of the artery walls may signal the development of cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) US uses ultrasound pictures of the carotid arteries to measure the thickness of the two innermost layers (the intima and media) of the carotid artery walls and to help identify plaque buildup.estimate the diameter of a blood vessel and degree of obstruction, if present. ![]() assess blood flow in the carotid arteries.Carotid duplex US uses a combination of conventional and Doppler ultrasound to:.Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood flow - including both its speed and direction- through a blood vessel. Conventional US involves the use of a small transducer (probe) to expose the body to high-frequency sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography or carotid duplex, is a safe and painless way to produce pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |