Various lifestyle habits can result in different vascular conditions depending on the part of your vascular system affected. Some unhealthy lifestyles that can cause vascular diseases include smoking, eating a high cholesterol diet, and lack of exercise, among many others. These factors usually block or clog the arteries responsible for supplying blood to various body parts. An example of an artery that gets clogged or blocked due to consumption of high cholesterol or smoking is the carotid artery. Generally, the carotid artery is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your brain. And when it is blocked, blood flow to your brain is altered, increasing your risk of developing stroke. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with carotid artery disease and are at risk of stroke and seek treatment, Evergreen Park carotid stenting is the solution to all your concerns. It helps open up clogged arteries and restore blood flow to your brain. To learn more about carotid stenting, read on.
What is carotid stenting?
Usually, when the arteries responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the brain are blocked, you are at a greater risk of stroke. In this case, you need a carotid stent, a surgical procedure involving placing a small wire mesh in your blocked carotid artery. As a result, the stent widens and unclogs your carotid artery, thus restoring blood flow to your brain. Therefore, supplying enough oxygen and nutrients to your brain reduces the risk of developing stroke.
Why do you need a carotid stent?
In most cases, you require a carotid stent when the arteries responsible for delivering blood to your brain are clogged with plaque that normal blood flow cannot handle. In some cases, the blockage in these arteries can cause a transient ischemic attack which causes restriction of blood flow to your brain temporarily, leading to confusion, blurry vision, and weakness, among other symptoms. Therefore, if you experience a transient ischemic heart attack, you are advised to undergo a carotid artery screening immediately. And if your blockages are advanced, your care providers may use medications to resolve them. Your care provider may also recommend some lifestyle modifications together with a carotid stent. Carotid stenting is a medical procedure recommended for people with a high-risk heart condition who had previous neck surgery, uncontrolled diabetes, or previous radiation to the neck.
What to expect during your carotid stenting procedure?
During your appointment, your care provider performs some x-rays and administers local anesthesia to prevent pain. They then place a tiny tube into your artery and guide a catheter with a balloon through it to the affected part of the carotid artery as guided by the x-ray results. The balloon is later inflated, and any debris that breaks from the artery is filtered. A stent is placed on the newly unclogged artery to allow blood flow. The tube, filter, and balloon are removed slowly, leaving the stent in place to prevent further blockage of the artery in the future.
Carotid artery blockage increases your risk of developing a stroke, a life-threatening condition that can cause death. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with carotid artery disease and seek medical help, you can get started by calling Vascular Specialists today.