Who is at risk for carotid artery disease?
- Diabetes
- High blood-fat levels
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
- Tobacco use
What are treatments for carotid artery disease?
Carotid endarterectomy
Carotid stenting
Are there ways to reduce the risk of developing carotid artery disease?
- Control chronic conditions. Manage any chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Consider limiting your salt intake. Reducing sodium can help lower your risk of developing high blood pressure.
- Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Healthy foods provide valuable nutrients for your body, which may protect you from a stroke.
- Exercise regularly. Being physically active can improve the health of your blood vessels and heart.
- Limit cholesterol and fat intake. This may help reduce the accumulation of plaque in your arteries.
- Limit your alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol in excess increases your risk for carotid artery disease.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and other health risks.
- Quit smoking or don’t start. After just a few years, a nonsmoker’s and a former smoker’s risk of stroke are comparable.
- Request an appointment with a vascular medicine specialist.
- Learn about peripheral artery disease—another type of arterial disease.
- Discover how genetic testing gives insight into cardiac conditions.
Source: Read Full Article