Carotid stenosis

Symptom of carotid stenosis

Dysfunction due to impaired blood flow to the brain

If blood clots and arteriosclerotic debris from an area of arteriosclerosis are carried by the bloodstream into the cerebral vessels and result in a blockage, this may cause symptoms such as the inability to move the arm and leg on one side of the body (hemiplegia), difficulty speaking (aphasia), and numbness or tingling in the arm and leg on one side (sensory disturbance). As the first branch of the carotid artery in the face is the vessel that supplies blood to the eyes, some cases show temporary declines in visual acuity on one side. These symptoms usually resolve completely within 24 hours, and frequently within one hour. In such cases, the event is called a "transient ischemic attack", and is regarded as a harbinger of a complete cerebral infarction. A number of these symptoms may also be present in combination, or appear over time. In severe cases, consciousness may decline and paralysis and other symptoms may cause major damage in one blow.

[ Symptoms caused by carotid stenosis ]

An embolus originated from a plaque in the carotid stenosis obstruct the cerebral artery, which leads cerebral ischemia. Arm and leg weakness, numbness in the opposite side of the body to the cerebral ischemia, and/or speech difficulty is major symptoms caused by the the cerebral ischemia.

Diagnosis of carotid stenosis

page top