I recognize a calcified carotid artery by these symptoms

Mild and moderate calcifications of the carotid artery usually cause no symptoms at all for a long time. The clinical picture is called asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Severe narrowing of the carotid artery can cause serious symptoms.

These include impaired vision, speech disorders, paralysis of the arms and/or legs, headaches and dizziness. All these symptoms are signs of a circulatory disorder of the brain. Those affected can also feel pain in the area of the carotid arteries.

In addition, a calcified carotid artery generally carries the risk of a stroke. Pain in the area of the carotid artery is a non-specific symptom that can be attributed to various causes. One possible cause is muscle tension, which can be treated well with physiotherapy and heat.

In addition, carotidynia (Fay syndrome) can cause pain in the carotid artery. This is a radiating pain in the area of the carotid artery, which is triggered by pressure on the carotid artery. A narrowing of the carotid artery due to calcium deposits and a carotid dissection, a splitting of the wall layers of the carotid artery, are serious clinical pictures that can cause pain in this area and require treatment.

Therapy of calcified carotid arteries

Calcified carotid arteries require therapy to prevent a stroke. Especially in cases of mild to moderate carotid stenosis, a change in lifestyle is the primary treatment goal. Sufficient exercise, a balanced diet, abstaining from smoking and good blood sugar control can slow down further vascular calcification.

In addition, blood-thinning medications are often prescribed, such as ASS (acetylsalicylic acid), which prevent the formation of clots. In the case of severe vascular constriction or after a stroke, surgery may be necessary. Whether surgery is necessary for a calcified carotid artery must be decided individually.Surgical indication is given if patients have already suffered a stroke due to a severe carotid stenosis or have a pronounced risk of stroke due to the narrowing of the arteries.

A high-grade stenosis of the carotid artery detected by ultrasound and very high blood lipid values are associated with a high risk of stroke. There are two surgical treatment options for a calcified carotid artery. Carotid endarterectomy has been performed for more than fifty years.

In this operation, the carotid artery is surgically dilated and calcified deposits are removed. The vessel is then closed again. A further treatment option is the expansion of the carotid artery with a balloon and the insertion of a vascular support, a stent, to keep the vessel open permanently.

While the carotid endarterectomy is performed open, through an incision in the neck, the stent is inserted through a catheter via the groin. Since elevated blood sugar and blood fat levels have a negative influence on our blood vessels, a balanced diet should be aimed for in cases of arteriosclerosis. This means that the amount of alcohol should be reduced and nicotine consumption should be stopped as completely as possible.

The carbohydrate intake should be adapted to requirements. Sweets and sugared drinks should be avoided. The amount of fat should be kept low and care should be taken to consume good fat for the most part. Good fats are unsaturated fatty acids such as those found in fish and avocado. Blood fat levels should be checked regularly, as cholesterol deposits play a crucial role in vascular calcification.