Carotid Artery Disease, CAD is hardening of the artery causing its narrowing and blockage. It is similar to hardening of the arteries elsewhere in the body such as the heart, legs or intracranial. If a vessel becomes severely narrowed or blocked blood flow to parts of the brain can be threatened and a stroke can occur.
The same risk factors that are associated with intracranial atherosclerosis are associated with atherosclerosis elsewhere (like heart, causing heart attacks). They include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and obesity. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries often causes transient ischemic attacks (TIAs or ministrokes). A pieces of the material that forms the blockage (plaque) and blood clots that form on the plaque break off and blood flow carries them into the head where they can block vessels supplying the brain. Typical symptoms include numbness or weakness on one side of the body, inability to speak or understand speech, and changes in vision (amaurosis). If the blockage is small and breaks up quickly, a TIA occurs. If there is blockage of a larger vessel or the blockage doesn’t break up right away, a stroke follows.
