As cardiologists northwest Florida‘s Cardiovascular Institute of Northwest Florida see a wide range of cardiovascular illness and diseases.  While heart disease remains America’s number one killer, other common heart and circulatory system conditions continue to prove problematic and it’s important to stay on top of treatment options.  Carotid artery disease – also called carotid artery stenosis – is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and having solid treatment options available can drastically reduce American deaths from cardiovascular conditions.

What is Carotid Artery Disease?
Carotid artery disease is a condition in which plaque builds up on the inside walls of the carotid arteries – the two large arteries which run from the heart up each side of the neck and supply blood to the brain.  This blood goes directly to the front part of the brain, which controls speech, thinking, motor functions, and personality.  If blood is cut off to this section of the brain, the resulting brain damage can significantly alter the person’s daily functioning, speech, and even their personality.

Carotid artery disease is similar to heart disease in that plaque, which comes from an excess of cholesterol in the diet, build up and narrows the arteries.  Patients with narrowed carotid arteries are at an elevated risk of stroke, and treatment measures should be taken to reduce the buildup of plaque and decrease the patient’s risk.

Treatment Options
While prevention (by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking or excessive alcohol use) is the best measure to avoid the impact of carotid artery disease, carotid stenting with cardiology Panama City FL experts Cardiovascular Institute of Northwest Florida provides an extremely successful and viable treatment option.  By placing a stent, or a small tube, in the carotid artery, cardiologists are able to increase the blood flow to the patient’s brain and reduce their risk of having a stroke.  The procedure can be completed in under an hour and is non-surgical, which makes it an excellent option for patients who are “high-risk” and cannot have surgical procedures performed.

For these high risk patients, having another interventional option for treating carotid artery disease can make an enormous difference in patient outlook, quality of life, and family life.  For more information, visit www.cardiovascularinstitute.com.