Atherosclerosis or a blockage of an artery is a symptom and not a disease in itself. More often than not, blockage in any artery leads to stress on the heart and subsequently a variety of cardio vascular disease.
The carotid artery is essentially a blood vessel which runs through the neck and transports blood to the brain. There is a set of two carotid arteries, one running on either side of the neck. It is this artery, the pulsation of which can be felt throughout the neck region. If you place your finger below the jawbone, you will be able to feel the pulsation of this artery. If there is a blockage in this artery, the immediate effect of it can be seen as changes in the functioning of the brain.
>When the carotid arteries become blocked, the amount of blood reaching the brain decreases drastically. When the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, it is known as a stroke. The brain ceases to function temporarily and this may cause permanent damage to the brain and ultimately to the bodily functions that the particular part of the brain controls.
Though there are other causes of stroke, the major cause is the blockage of the carotid artery. Blockages in the carotid artery could be due to deposits of cholesterol. Sometimes, the accumulated cholesterol may even break down into small pieces and travel through the blood vessels till it reaches a narrow point and gets stuck there. Once the clot is stuck in the artery, the blood is not able to pass through, thus choking the organ to which the artery is connected. In such a situation, the heart has to exert an extra effort to pump blood through the choked artery. This could also have an adverse effect on the heart.
The cholesterol deposits in the carotid arteries not only lead to high blood pressure but may also cause rupture of the arteries. If you are overweight or have diseases like diabetes, your blood pressure may increase a lot, causing complications in your conditions. You may be given additional treatment for lowering blood pressure and may also need regular monitoring of your heart through angiograms.
Depending on how you continue with your treatment, you may or may not require angioplasty. In case you have any other health problems or complications, you may require other medical interventions too. A regular check up and monitoring of the blood pressure may help in keeping the disease in check.
Submitted by M T on April 21, 2010 at 01:15