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A doctor may use several different tests to determine whether a person has carotid artery disease or has had a stroke or TIA.

These tests include:. Once a doctor has diagnosed carotid artery disease, they will recommend treatment options to help prevent future complications.

If a person has a more severe blockage, a doctor may recommend additional treatments, such as carotid angioplasty with stenting CAS. CAS is a minimally invasive procedure. The catheter may have a balloon at its tip, which the doctor can use to increase the size of the artery so that they can place a stent in the artery.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend a carotid endarterectomy CEA. A CEA is a procedure in which the doctor cleans plaque from the carotid artery. Over time, a person may develop carotid artery disease, which occurs when these blood vessels narrow.

People who are concerned about their risk of TIA or stroke should speak to a doctor about treatments and lifestyle changes. Carotid artery disease develops when the arteries that carry blood to the brain get narrower or clogged due to plaque buildup. Learn more about the…. Stroke blocks the blood supply to the brain and can be life threatening. Learn more about strokes, including the types, symptoms, and how treat and….

A ministroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack TIA , involves a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain. Learn more about TIAs here. In this article, learn about the different kinds of cholesterol, what different factors affect cholesterol levels, and when to contact a doctor.

Aortic dissection occurs when the inner lining of the aorta splits and tears. Accessed 24, Grotta JC. New England Journal of Medicine. Furie KL.

Evaluation of c arotid artery stenosis. Management of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease. Barrett KM expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. April 14, Morales-Volero SF, et al. Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis: Time to rethink our therapeutic options?

Neurosurgery Focus. Babu MA, et al. The durability of carotid endarterectomy: Long-term results for restenosis and stroke. Riggin EA.

Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 30, Barrett KM, et al. Stroke: Advances in medical therapy and acute stroke intervention. Current Cardiology Reports.

Huang Y, et al. Contemporary outcomes after carotid endarterectomy mandate revision of society guidelines to recommend new benchmarks for appropriate treatment of carotid artery disease. Journal of Vascular Surgery. Huang JF, et al. Interventions for extracranial carotid artery stenosis: An update. Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Krishna C expert opinion. Malas M, et al. Effect of patching on reducing restenosis in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial. Stroke caused by extracranial disease. Circulation Research. The benefit of the aspirin is to reduce the stickiness of small blood cells called platelets which adhere to the irregular surface of the plaque, but can then break off as a small clump.

Where aspirin is not appropriate, other anti-platelet drugs can be prescribed. The benefit of a statin is partly in reducing the cholesterol, which was the initial reason for them being developed, but they also appear to reduce the tendency for atherosclerotic plaques to crack and so even patients with low cholesterol will benefit from taking them. In the carotid arteries, the problem is related to the possibility that small pieces of solid material may break off the plaque and pass with the bloodstream into the brain causing a TIA or stroke.

It is likely that if you have had a stroke, a TIA or amaurosis fugax that you will be advised to have the operation as soon as possible to prevent a further stroke. Your surgeon will make sure that you are on the right medications and discuss whether you need surgery or not.

More information and advice about vascular health. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that the information contained on this site is accurate, it is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the Circulation Foundation recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.

The Circulation Foundation cannot accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any inaccuracy in this information or third party information such as information on websites to which we link. The information provided is intended to support patients, not provide personal medical advice.

What are the carotid arteries? What is carotid artery disease? What causes carotid artery disease? How is the diagnosis made? Can medication help? Will I need an operation? Your surgeon will advise you whether you need an operation.