The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain. These arteries run from the aorta (the main blood vessel in the body that arises from the heart) to the brain inside the skull.
Like any artery in the body, carotid arteries can become affected by atherosclerotic disease and become partially (stenotic) or completely blocked inside them. As more plaque is deposited, the arteries narrow and harden. This process is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
When an atheroma forms in the carotid artery it can cause problems for various reasons. The plaque can become unstable and pieces of this fatty deposit can break off at intervals and be carried in the blood stream to the brain (embolism). When these particles (or clots) become lodged in a smaller artery in the brain they can cause a stroke, either transient (TIA) or permanent.
The following symptoms may occur:
- Feeling weak, light-headed or numb on one side of the body, for example an upper limb or a lower limb.
- Inability to control upper or lower limb movement.
- Loss of vision in one eye (many describe it as a curtain covering the eye).
- Inability of the patient to speak clearly.
