From the Guidelines
Symptoms of carotid blockage include sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, sudden vision problems, sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking, and sudden severe headache with no known cause, as a result of plaque inflammation and disruption with subsequent embolism of locally formed thrombus or plaque debris, leading to occlusion of retinal or cerebral arteries 1.
Key Symptoms
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause These symptoms may be temporary, lasting only a few minutes or hours (called transient ischemic attacks or TIAs), or they may be permanent if a stroke occurs 1.
Mechanism of Symptoms
The symptoms are caused by plaque inflammation and disruption with subsequent embolism of locally formed thrombus or plaque debris, leading to occlusion of retinal or cerebral arteries, most commonly in the anterior circulation (athero-thromboembolism) 1.
Importance of Prompt Treatment
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately, as prompt treatment can prevent permanent brain damage 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Carotid Blockage
The symptoms of carotid blockage can vary, but some common signs include:
- Disordered speech, aphasia 2
- Vertigo 2
- Unilateral arm paralysis 2
- Crooked mouth 2
- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which are neurological deficits of sudden onset and equally sudden reversal 2
- Asymptomatic microembolic signals (MES), detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), which are markers of future stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) risk 3
Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke and TIA
Some risk factors for ischemic stroke and TIA in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis include:
- Carotid stiffness, which is associated with previous ischemic stroke or TIA 4
- High-risk plaque features, such as carotid plaque necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrous cap thinning, and the presence of foam cells, which are correlated with the risk of rupture and onset of neurological symptoms in patients with carotid stenosis 5
- Significant carotid artery stenosis, which is a high risk of stroke and vascular events 6
Diagnostic Tests
Some diagnostic tests used to evaluate carotid blockage include: