Did you know that one in four adults will suffer a stroke at some point in their life?
A stroke occurs when the carotid arteries, the two main arteries that supply blood to the brain, become narrowed and restrict its flow. This often results from plaque build-up within the arteries known as carotid disease.
Stroke can have serious consequences, such as suffering permanent brain damage, a physical disability or paralysis, or even death.
At CTVS, our team of board-certified vascular specialists are experts in the surgical prevention of stroke and dedicated to raising awareness about the condition, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
In honor of World Stroke Day on October 29, we’re sharing how you can help decrease your risk of stroke both surgically and via healthy lifestyle choices.
How can surgery prevent stroke?
If you are diagnosed with carotid artery disease, a common form of treatment your physician may suggest to prevent the arteries from becoming dangerously blocked is a surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy. This is often recommended for those who have 70% or more blockage. An endarterectomy can clear out the plaque build-up that may potentially lead to a stroke and restore healthy blood flow through the arteries and to the brain. It is accomplished through substantial incisions made on either side of the neck.
CTVS also performs a less invasive version of this surgery to clear carotid artery blockages known as TCAR, or transcarotid artery revascularization.
What is TCAR?
Similar to an endarterectomy, your surgeon will make an incision in the neck, but it is much smaller and uses special stents to clear out the arteries. While the arteries are being cleaned out, a flow-reversal device is inserted into the carotid artery to temporarily reverse blood flow away from the brain, helping to catch any plaque debris that may have become loose during the procedure.
Once the artery is all clear and the blockage stented, blood flow is reversed and completely restored.
TCAR has proven to be highly successful for offering very low rates of stroke following this procedure.
The recovery time associated with TCAR is minimal compared with traditional endarterectomy and can have you back to your normal routine much quicker.
Stroke Prevention Tips
Outside of preventative surgical intervention, other ways to reduce your risk for stroke include:
- Consuming a diet full of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, whole grains and limited process foods
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Engaging in regular exercise and physical activity
- Not smoking and limiting alcohol
- Managing and monitoring any serious health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
- Getting screened for carotid disease if you have a family history of it or any other cardiovascular conditions
Recognizing Signs of a Stroke
Almost as important as doing what you can to prevent a stroke for yourself or a loved one is being able to recognize when someone might be suffering from one. If you notice any of the following symptoms (the F.A.S.T acronym), act immediately:
F: Face drooping
A: Arm weakness or numbness
S: Speech difficulty
T: Time to call 911
The sooner someone suffering a stroke can get help, generally within the first three hours of spotting signs, the better chance they have at avoiding brain damage, a physical impairment, or worse.
For questions about our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.
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