Life expectancy with blocked carotid artery

Carotid arteries are located on either side of your neck. It provides oxygen, nutrients, and blood to the brain. The oxygenated blood towards the head is supplied through your carotid arteries and vessels. The carotid artery supplies oxygenated blood and nutrients; the brain performs function properly. It is situated on both sides of your neck.

Learning that your carotid artery blocks can be stressful, especially after a stroke. Questioning how long someone might expect to live with a blocked carotid artery is typical, especially if it is recently diagnosed. To explore how blocked carotid artery might develop. What is the life expectancy with blocked carotid artery and its treatment-related surgical techniques? This blog will help you.

What are the Causes of the blocked carotid artery:

The leading cause of artery blockage is atherosclerosis. It includes plaque formation in the carotid, which creates resistance in blood flow or oxygen toward the brain. The plaque may be of cholesterol, lipids, or calcium. Basically, atherosclerosis increases the risk of stroke and arterial damage. As the severity of the carotid blockage, the more chances of stroke

In the condition of stroke, due to blockage of carotid artery, cuts off the supply towards the brain. As a result of this. Brain cells don’t get oxygen and begin to die. It is fatal and causes mental and physical impairment. Some reasons for blockage are given below:

• Genetics
• High blood pressure
• Hyperlipidemia
• Diabetes
• Injury to your neck, old age
• Smoking or using alcohol

Life expectancy with blocked carotid artery with symptoms:

However, in many cases, the patient doesn’t experience symptoms or is asymptomatic. However, the patient suffering carotid artery blockage may experience a heart attack or stroke called a silent attack.

Symptoms depend on the severity of the blockage; different patients experience different symptoms;

• Memory loss
• Confusion
• numbness in one body side
• Fainting due to loss of blood supply to the brain
• Memory, speech, and thinking problems

Life expectancy with blocked carotid artery treatment:

To reduce your risk of having another stroke, your doctor can advise an invasive surgical surgery if they find that your carotid arteries are blocked. When the blockage is above 70 per cent, then doctors recommend surgery. Although below 70 per cent obstruction, doctors treated with medicines.

Whereas, What is the life expectancy with 100 blocked carotid artery? It becomes serious and life-threatening. Further, timely diagnosis of blockage may lead to long productive lives. Along with these, other health parameters also define its life expectancy. However, there is no well-defined set of time for an individual’s life with artery blockage.

Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting:

The stent placement inside your carotid artery is one of these procedures. A constricted blood artery is kept open with the help of a portion of a thin mesh tube to maintain proper blood flow. But, even while it may sound frightening, the blockage hazards remain there. However, cholesterol and diabetes-controlling medicines, in addition to antiplatelet also used along with this treatment.

Carotid endarterectomy(CEA):

Carotid endarterectomy is another technique (CEA.) In this kind of surgery, the affected artery is clamped before the obstruction is taken out and removed. Following the excision, the blocked artery can be patched using a vein segment from your leg. The artery and neck are then repaired using stitches.

Doctors generally regard the carotid endarterectomy CEA process as safe. It significantly lowers the risk of stroke in people with carotid artery blockages. Several studies have demonstrated a significantly reduced risk of stroke on the afflicted side following a CEA. Thus, it’s a process that tangibly lengthens their expected lifespan.

Frequently Ask A question:

What is the average carotid artery blockage by age?

With time carotid artery blockage becomes worse gradually. At the age of 40, most men suffer from plaque of cholesterol. This worsens with the passage of age; many plaques have built up. Although blocked carotid artery by age also depends upon different other factors such as diet, lifestyle, chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure etc.

What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your neck?

The symptoms include:

• Pain in the neck or tenderness
• difficulty in swallowing and speaking
• visual changes occur
• Reduce pulse in the neck

Besides these, other symptoms include:

• headache
• numbness
• Reduce blood flow in one side of the body. It might be due to transient ischemic attack.
• confusion or loss of memory

Life expectancy with blocked carotid artery without surgery?

It depends on the blockage area. If the area is above 70 per cent. Surgery is an option. In less blockage areas, medication, lifestyle changes and diet plans are prescribed. However, if the condition gets worse then less invasive surgery such as stenting or balloon angioplasty surgery should be carried out.

Conclusion:

Living a healthy lifestyle coupled with a healthy diet is essential to extend your life expectancy with blocked carotid artery. It also increases your quality of life. If you are a diabetic, emphasize on such foods that reduce sugar level. Your life expectancy chances increase considerably if you stop smoking, consume a nutritious diet, exercise frequently, and take your medications as directed in blocked carotid artery conditions. Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with a stroke or already suffer from one, it is true. Also, following up with your doctor is crucial to monitor your condition.