Therapy
Depending on the diagnosis, different treatment options are available for carotid pain. If the problem is primarily muscular, physiotherapy and massages can be used to relieve the tension in the affected area, resulting in pain relief. In case of stenosis of the carotid arteries, in addition to avoiding the risk factors for heart disease (smoking, lack of exercise, blood lipids), the procedure known as carotid thrombendarterectomy is used.
In this procedure, the artery wall at the affected area is removed by means of an operation, which facilitates the diameter for the blood and reduces the risk of a blood clot in the long term. Another procedure widens the affected area of the carotid artery in the narrowed area and the vessel is kept open in the long term by means of a stent. In the treatment of carotid dissection, the main focus is on thinning the blood to prevent the formation of blood clots, which can then lead to a stroke. In individual cases, a stent can be used to repair the vessel at the affected site.
Pain in the carotid artery when breathing in
Pain in the region of the carotid artery, which occurs especially during inhalation, can be an indication of tension in the cervical spine. A blockage of the cervical vertebrae can also be the cause of this type of discomfort. A carotid dissection can also cause a similar symptomatology, but here other symptoms are more important. Patients report pain in the lower jaw or the temporal region, show signs of paralysis and even visual disturbances.
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