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CJS > Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Artery Disease Hillsborough NJ & Somerville NJ

Don’t Risk your Life. Check for and treat Carotid Artery Disease at Central Jersey Surgeons.

Carotid artery disease is a serious issue where a build up of plaque forms clots in the artery, restricting blood flow. Plaque or clots can also break loose and travel to the brain. If plaque or a clot blocks the blood flow to your brain sufficiently, it can cause stroke, which can cause permanent brain damage, or, if a large enough area of the brain is affected, death. If a clot or plaque blocks only a tiny artery in the brain, it may cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. A TIA is often a warning sign that a stroke may occur shortly, and it should be a signal to seek treatment soon before a stroke occurs. At Central Jersey Surgeons, we strive to provide Hillsborough, NJ and Somerville, NJ with safe treatment for carotid artery disease.

Where are my carotid arteries?

Your carotid arteries are located on each side of your neck and extend from your aorta in your chest to enter the base of your skull. These important arteries supply blood to your brain.

What is my treatment option for carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease can be treated with a procedure called a carotid endarterectomy. Your physician may recommend a carotid to remove plaque in your carotid arteries and help prevent a stroke. It is one of the most commonly performed vascular operations and is a safe and long-lasting treatment.

Carotid endarterectomy is an operation during which your vascular surgeon removes the inner lining of your carotid artery if it has become thickened (narrowed). This procedure eliminates a substance called plaque from your artery and can restore blood flow.

How do I prepare for a carotid endarterectomy?

Your physician or vascular surgeon will give you the instructions you need to follow before the surgery, such as fasting. Before your vascular surgeon performs a carotid endarterectomy, he or she may want to determine how much plaque has built up in your arteries. The most common test used for this purpose is duplex ultrasound. Duplex ultrasound uses painless sound waves to show your blood vessels and measures how fast your blood flows. It can also determine the location and degree of narrowing in your carotid artery. Other tests your vascular surgeon may use include CT scan or angiography. Test are conducted in our Hillsborough, NJ facility.

Am I eligible for carotid endarterectomy?

You are eligible for the procedure if you have severe narrowing of your carotid arteries, especially if you are experiencing TIAs and are in reasonably good health otherwise.

What can I do to keep my carotid artery healthy?

Although a carotid endarterectomy can reduce your risk of stroke by removing the offending plaque, and although the procedure is quite durable, it does not completely stop plaque from building up again in susceptible individuals. To minimize the chance of carotid artery disease recurring, you should consider the following changes: Eat foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories; Exercise regularly, especially aerobic exercises such as walking; maintain your ideal body weight, and avoid smoking. Courtesy Society for Vascular Surgery.

For more information about Varicose Veins in Hillsborough, NJ at (908) 722-0030 or visit Central Jersey Surgeons blog.

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