Nearly one third of Chinese adults have carotid artery plaque , and the prevalence gradually increases with age. Carotid artery plaque is closely related to diseases such as ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks . About 25% to 30% of ischemic strokes are caused by carotid artery plaques.
The carotid artery is on the neck, located on both sides of the trachea, and the pulse of the large artery can be felt by touching it. The carotid artery is a very important blood vessel, divided into intracervical and , external carotid artery , which supplies blood supply to the entire brain.
Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is a natural phenomenon in the process of atherosclerosis. A layer of wax-like deposited on the wall of the artery, reducing the elasticity of the artery and narrowing the lumen. It is often found at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and there are often no obvious symptoms at the beginning. When the carotid artery is severely stenosis, it may be accompanied by non-specific symptoms such as dizziness, headache, and fainting.
1 who are prone to carotid artery plaques?
45 years old and women over 55 years old, the incidence rate in men is higher than that in women; people with abnormal lipids in ; hypertension , diabetes , obesity and metabolic syndrome; patients with a family history of arteriosclerosis; people who smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, and are nervous; people who lack vegetables, fruits and high-fat diets in ; people who have abdominal obesity and lack exercise.
2 What examinations can be done to find carotid artery plaques?
Carotid artery ultrasound is a trauma-free test and one of the most commonly used methods to evaluate carotid artery plaques. If plaques are found in carotid artery ultrasound, the doctor will recommend further examinations based on the examination results, such as transcranial Doppler ultrasound, CT angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, whole-cerebral angiography, etc.
3 What should I do if carotid artery plaque is found?
This disease cannot be cured. By controlling risk factors (such as weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.), medication and surgical treatment, atherosclerotic plaques can be stabilized and thrombosis should be minimized.
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The drug treatment of carotid artery plaque mainly includes antihypertensive treatment, lipid-lowering treatment and antiplatelet drug treatment, which is also an important treatment method for treating carotid atherosclerosis . Drugs help prevent new arterial plaques from forming, but they cannot eliminate or completely reverse existing carotid arterial plaques.
The vast majority of patients with carotid artery plaque do not need surgical treatment. Only when the plaque grows to a certain level, causing a specific degree of stenosis of blood vessels and affecting the normal blood supply of the brain, surgical treatment is needed. There are two common surgical methods: carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting (CAS).
si How to prevent the occurrence of carotid artery plaques in normal times?
1 /ONE Dietary: Eat poultry and fish that contain high protein and less fat, such as milk, eggs, fish, shrimp, etc.; eat more foods containing vitamins (fresh vegetables, fruits) and plant protein (beans and their products); reduce sodium salt intake. 2 / TWO Quit smoking and drinking, avoid stimulation of coffee and strong tea to the human body, actively control risk factors such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia, and reduce the risk of carotid artery plaque formation. 3/THREE Maintain good living habits, eat a balanced diet, sleep well, and choose a way of exercise that suits you. 4/FOUR High-risk patients should go to the hospital for carotid plaque screening regularly to observe the presence or absence of plaques or size and nature, understand the situation in a timely manner, and consult a doctor based on the examination results to intervene as soon as possible.
In short, don’t panic when you find carotid artery plaques.Carotid artery plaques develop progressively, and stability and instability can be transformed into each other and must be monitored regularly. The formation of intravascular plaques is the result of long-term influence of multiple factors. In life, quit smoking and drinking, live a reasonable life, exercise moderately, prevent and control chronic diseases, and protect our blood vessels.
