Cerebrovascular Division Carotid stenosis is the narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck. The narrowing is the result of the build-up of a plaque inside the carotid artery typically where it branches in the neck into its two major divisions. The build-up of plaque is associated with several risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. The most serious consequence of carotid stenosis is a stroke. There are approximately 750,000 strokes per year in the United States and more than 150,000 patients die because of the stroke.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death after coronary artery disease and cancer.
It is believed that approximately half of strokes are due to narrowing of and emboli from the carotid arteries. Although we find many patients to have carotid stenosis after they have a stroke, many are found to have this problem before having a stroke. Often, we can hear turbulent flow over the carotid arteries when we listen with a stethoscope. We then obtain a test to assess the degree of carotid stenosis. If we find critical stenosis of the carotid artery, then we recommend treatment.