Carotid arteriosclerosis

Introduction The carotid artery includes the common carotid artery and branches, that is, the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery. Carotid stenosis caused by carotid atherosclerosis is an important risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Because most carotid atherosclerosis has no clinical symptoms, it is often overlooked. Some patients have clinical symptoms, including transient or persistent monocular blindness and transient ischemic attack. The so-called transient is temporary, temporary.

Cause

Atherosclerotic lesions are mostly distributed in the lateral wall of the vascular bifurcation and the inner side wall of the curvature and the carotid sinus. The blood in these areas is affected by the angle of the blood vessel to form a non-laminar state such as turbulence, which is easy to damage the endometrium. It is beneficial to lipid deposition and platelet aggregation to form atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, the reduction of the shear force of the local blood vessel wall is an important factor in the formation of atherosclerosis. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an early pathological change of atherosclerosis. The vascular endothelium actively participates in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Vascular endothelial cells secrete a variety of factors that can control vascular tone, regulate and balance vasodilation and contraction, including mediation. Inflammation of the blood vessel wall, affecting plaque stability and thrombosis, and affecting lipoprotein metabolism, uptake, and angiogenesis and remodeling. Important mediators of endothelium-dependent vasodilation are nitric oxide, neurohormonal substances (such as acetylcholine, serum). Changes in shear stress caused by sputum, catecholamines, etc., and circulating blood can trigger the release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells and cause vasodilation. Atherosclerosis is an arterial disease associated with dyslipidemia and changes in the composition of the blood vessel wall, mainly involving elastic arteries and elastic muscle arteries. The lesion is characterized by the deposition of blood lipids in the intima of the arteries, causing focal fibrotic thickening of the intima and necrosis and disintegration of deep components, formation of atheroma, and hardening of the arteries.

an examination

Related inspection

Carotid artery color ultrasonography

The carotid artery is a relatively large blood vessel. The internal carotid artery supplies blood and oxygen directly to the brain tissue, and the external carotid artery supplies blood and oxygen to the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. If the carotid artery is hardened, there is plaque on the wall of the blood vessel, so that the blood does not flow smoothly. If it is not smooth, it will often cause ischemia and hypoxia of the brain tissue. Patients often feel dizzy, dizzy, poor memory, and obvious decline in thinking ability. Over time, it will cause brain atrophy. If the hardened carotid artery has thick plaques that fall off and block the arterial blood vessels with blood flow, it will cause cerebral infarction, blindness, unclear language, paralysis and other strokes, and even life-threatening.

Carotid intima-like or atherosclerotic plaque is a degenerative, proliferative, and systemic disease of the large and middle arteries. Atherosclerosis is the cause of reduced arterial elasticity. Carotid arteriosclerosis is severe and there is sclerosing plaque detachment, blocking the blood vessels of the brain. It is a common disease in the elderly. In general, mild arteriosclerosis does not affect the blood supply to the brain, so there are no symptoms after neck activity. Severe arteriosclerosis can reduce the blood supply to the brain, causing dizziness, headache and memory loss. If the neck is active at this time, it is likely to aggravate cerebral ischemia, which will make the brain ischemia more serious and even occur. Ischemic stroke." The main cause of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure, premature beats. These diseases often occur in the "three highs", that is, people with high blood pressure, high blood fat, and high blood sugar, and the incidence of the elderly is greater than that of young people. Therefore, some experts remind that after the age of 50, women should go to the hospital for a detailed examination after menopause. Because the disease does not have any symptoms, people usually take it lightly. Once there is dizziness and dizziness, it means that plaque has formed. Must go to the hospital for control, otherwise it is easy to cause a stroke.

Differential diagnosis

Cerebral arteriosclerosis: It is a part of systemic arteriosclerosis, and it is also the main pathogenesis of acute cerebral blood circulation, especially ischemic attack. It is a general term for degeneration and hardening of cerebral arterial wall caused by various factors. Including cerebral atherosclerosis (large and middle arteries), small arteriosclerosis, and microscopic arterial glassy changes, which are often mentioned in medicine, are called cerebral arteriosclerosis.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.