Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Disease Carotid Arteries The carotid arteries are two large blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the large, front part of the brain. This is where thinking, speech, personality, and sensory and motor functions reside. You can feel your pulse in the carotid. Carotid Artery Disease (CAD) CAD is a condition in which the carotid arteries become narrowed or blocked. When the arteries become narrowed, blood can't reach the brain. This is one of the causes of stroke and the condition is called carotid stenosis . Risk factors for blockage of the arteries include: Alcohol abuse Cocaine use Diabetes Family history of stroke High blood pressure High cholesterol Increasing age Smoking Test to diagnose carotid artery disease Carotid Ultrasound (Standard or Doppler) This noninvasive, painless screening test uses high-frequency sound waves to view the carotid arteries. It looks for plaques and blood clots and determines whether...