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Carotid artery disease is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the carotid arteries in either side of the neck. The common carotid arteries divide into internal carotid arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain, and external carotid arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to your face, scalp, and neck.

If you have carotid artery disease, you can take steps to manage the condition, reduce risk factors, and prevent complications by making lifestyle changes, following your treatment plan, and getting ongoing care. Know the stroke warning signs and call 9–1–1 for emergency help if you think you are having a stroke.

DASH is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life.

The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, upper body discomfort, and shortness of breath.

Conditions that damage or overwork the heart muscle can cause the heart to weaken, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, other heart conditions, and other factors.

Heart failure is more common in people age 65 or older, blacks, people who are overweight, and people who have had a heart attack. Children who have congenital heart defects also can develop heart failure.

If you are living with heart failure, you should follow your lifelong treatment plan, take steps to prevent heart failure from getting worse, plan ahead, and obtain emotional support.

Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise your risk for the disease. Major risk factors include unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, insulin resistance, diabetes, being overweight, lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, older age, and family history of early heart disease.

El médico diagnostica la aterosclerosis con base en sus antecedentes médicos y familiares, un examen médico y los resultados de una o más pruebas como prueba de sangre, electrocardiograma (ECG), radiografía de tórax, índice tobillo- brazo, ecocardiografía, tomografía computarizada (CT), prueba de esfuerzo y angiografía.

Strokes are medical emergencies and treatment needs to begin immediately. Depending on the type of stroke, treatment may include medicines (such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or anticoagulants/antiplatelets) and procedures (such as carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery angioplasty). Surgery—such as aneurysm clipping and coil embolization or arteriovenous malformation repair—may be needed to treat a hemorrhagic stroke. Making lifestyle changes can help treat and control risk factors for a stroke.