How Is Carotid Artery Disease Treated?

How is carotid artery disease treated?

Once your physician diagnoses you with carotid artery disease, they will need to determine the best treatment for your condition. Usually, the treatment is based on factors like:

• Your age
• How sick you are
• General health and medical history
• How long they expect the condition to last
• How well you respond to specific procedures, therapies, and medicine
• Your preference or opinion

If the arteries are narrowed by less than 50%, the health care provider will likely use medicine and lifestyle changes for treatment. If the narrowing of arteries is between 50-70%, they may recommend you undergo surgery to remove the blockages.

During treatment, you may be required to:

Exercise – lack of exercise causes weight gain, which raises cholesterol and blood pressure. Starting an exercise regimen can assist you in maintaining a healthy weight which will, in turn, reduce the carotid artery disease risks.

Lower cholesterol – this is done by eating a low-fat or low-cholesterol diet. Eat lean meats, plenty of vegetables, as well as high-fiber grains. Foods that are high in saturated fats and are processed should be avoided at all costs. If the doctor determines that the exercise and diet cannot control cholesterol as expected, they may prescribe medicines.

Avoid smoking – when you quit smoking, you’ll reduce the risks for cardiovascular disease and carotid artery disease. Nicotine products do constrict blood vessels, which reduces blood flow via the arteries.

Reduce blood pressure – when the blood pressure is high, it causes blood vessel inflammation and wear and tear. These increase the artery narrowing risks. The ideal blood pressure needs to be below 140/90, but people with diabetes may require a lower rate.

Lower blood sugar – the presence of high levels of glucose in the bloodstream can cause inflammation or damage to the carotid artery lining. So, you have to control glucose by reducing your sugar intake and exercising. Diabetic patients may require medicine or other treatment solutions.

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