Carotid artery disease is often asymptomatic until the blockage(s) become significant and the patient is at considerable risk for a stroke or suffers an actual stroke.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis and thus, carotid artery disease, include:

• Diabetes
• Smoking cigarettes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure

Symptoms of both a stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) include:

• Weakness or paralysis of a limb or one side of the body
• Inability to speak or articulate clearly
• Blindness or other visual changes in one or both eyes
• Difficulty swallowing

Along with carotid artery disease, there are a number of less common conditions that also can affect the carotid arteries, including:

• Aneurysms, or swelling of the artery
• Carotid body tumors, which are tumors that arise from and involve the carotid arteries
• Recurrent blockages after prior carotid artery surgery
• Fibromuscular dysplasia, an inflammatory condition of the artery
• Inominate artery disease, or blockages in an artery below the carotid artery
• Carotid artery dissections, where the wall of the artery splits or tears

Treatments for carotid artery disease may include lifestyle changes, medicines, and medical procedures. The goals of treatment are to stop the disease from getting worse and to prevent a stroke.
Your treatment will depend on your symptoms, how severe the disease is, and your age and overall health.
Lifestyle Changes
Making lifestyle changes can help prevent carotid artery disease or keep it from getting worse. For some people, these changes may be the only treatment needed:

• Follow a healthy diet to prevent or lower high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and to maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active. Check with your doctor first to find out how much and what kinds of activity are safe for you.
• If you’re overweight or obese, lose weight.
• If you smoke, quit. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke.