Quality Care for Carotid Artery Disease in Northern California

Carotid artery disease is a cardiovascular condition in which the primary blood vessels in your neck become narrowed from plaque buildup. These arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to your brain. If this blood flow is decreased, it can cause brain damage and even stroke.

Dignity Health North State offers complete care for carotid artery disease in Northern California. If you’d like to make an appointment with a cardiovascular specialist, Find a Doctor today.

 

Carotid Artery Disease Symptoms

A routine exam may be the first time your doctor notices you have carotid artery disease. If your doctor hears a whooshing sound when listening with a stethoscope, he or she may order a vascular ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis. 

Most people don’t know they have carotid artery disease until it causes a mini stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA). To schedule a cardiovascular checkup, contact a Dignity Health North State heart center: 

 

Carotid Artery Disease Causes

Over time, your carotid arteries can narrow as a combination of cholesterol, fatty substances, and other materials (plaque) collects on the inner walls of these blood vessels.

Risk factors for this disease include:

  • Smoking
  • Older age
  • Poor diet
  • Persistently high blood sugar levels
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Not exercising
  • High blood pressure
  • Sedentary lifestyle

 

Carotid Artery Disease Treatment at Dignity Health North State

Your doctor may initially focus on treating carotid artery disease through lifestyle changes to help stop fatty plaque from building up in your arteries. This may include having you stop smoking, start a healthy diet, and add exercise to your weekly routine.

For more advanced cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat your cholesterol, blood pressure, or other heart-related conditions. You may need medicine to prevent blood clots or surgery to remove plaque from your arteries or place stents to hold your arteries open. 

Talk with a Dignity Health North State doctor about your treatment options.

Dignity Health North State considers patients’ physical, mental, and spiritual needs while caring for carotid artery disease in Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, and Redding, CA.