Recently, stroke (cerebrovascular accident) cases have been increasingly observed, and Dr. İhsan Alur, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Specialist at Özel Denizli Egekent Hospital, stated that a sudden severe headache or dizziness may be a sign of a stroke.
Dr. Alur explained that the carotid arteries, located on the right and left sides of the neck, carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain, and he discussed carotid artery disease and stroke. He said, “These arteries, commonly known as the carotid arteries, develop carotid artery disease when the inner walls accumulate oxidized fat and calcium deposits called plaques, causing narrowing or blockage.”
Emphasizing the significant role of carotid artery disease in causing strokes, Dr. Alur noted that fragments of calcium from plaques or blood clots can break off, travel through the bloodstream, block vessels in more distant regions of the brain, and cause a stroke.
Sudden headaches or dizziness of unknown cause are important indicators of carotid artery disease, according to Dr. Alur. He added, “If you experience weakness or numbness on one side of your body, sometimes including the face, difficulty speaking or understanding, or sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, you should immediately consult a cardiovascular specialist.”
Dr. Alur also mentioned that carotid artery disease may not show symptoms until significant narrowing or blockage occurs, and in some patients, the disease is only detected after a stroke.
Paying attention to risk factors for carotid artery disease
Dr. Alur stressed the importance of monitoring risk factors for carotid artery disease and stated:
“We can categorize risk factors as modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable and important factors include smoking, high fat and cholesterol levels, hypertension, insulin resistance, or high blood sugar due to diabetes. Non-modifiable risk factors include advanced age, being male, congenital clotting disorders, and certain rheumatologic diseases.”