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Patient Education

Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid arteries extend from the aorta in your chest to your brain and supply blood to your brain. Carotid artery disease occurs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked by plaque, a sticky substance made up of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue. You are more likely to develop carotid artery disease as you age. Only 1 percent of adults age 50 to 59 have significantly narrowed carotid arteries, compared to 10 percent of those age 80 to 89.

Your arteries are normally smooth and unobstructed on the inside but as you age, plaque can build up in the walls. As more plaque builds up, your arteries narrow and stiffen. This process is called atherosclerosis. When enough plaque builds up to reduce or disturb blood flow, the result is carotid artery disease; a serious condition that can cause a stroke.

Stroke & Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)

Carotid artery disease may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but as the arteries become narrower, an individual may experience symptoms such as numbness or weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or vision problems. These symptoms can vary in length and may indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.

This is how stroke happens. Some plaque deposits are soft and prone to cracking or forming rough, irregular areas in the artery. If this happens, your body will flood the area with blood-clotting cells called platelets. A large blood clot may then form in your carotid artery or one of its branches and if it blocks the artery enough to slow or stop blood and oxygen flow to your brain, it could cause a stroke. More commonly, a clot or piece of plaque breaks off and travels through your bloodstream. This particle can lodge in a smaller artery in your brain, block the artery and cause a stroke.

Renal Artery Stenosis

The main function of the kidneys is to filter blood and remove waste products and excess fluids. Kidneys receive almost one-third of the body's blood flow and play a major role in regulating blood pressure. Renal artery stenosis is usually atherosclerosis (artery narrowing and stiffening) that occurs in the blood vessels leading to the kidneys.

If the renal artery becomes so tight that it disrupts blood flow to the kidneys, the kidneys incorrectly sense low blood pressure and send signals to increase blood pressure so they can get more blood. The result is high blood pressure, also known as renovascular hypertension, which can increase heart strain and accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis throughout the body. Renal artery stenosis can also result in poor renal function, which impairs kidney function and can result in the need for dialysis.

Women & Heart Disease

Did you know that more women die of cardiovascular disease than the next 15 causes of death combined? Or that a woman's risk of heart attack increases significantly after menopause? This #1 killer of women in America is widely misunderstood and there are many things you need to know about the misconceptions, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Myth: Breast cancer is the most significant health and death threat to women.

Reality: Women are ten times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than from breast cancer. In fact, cardiovascular disease kills nearly twice as many women as all cancers combined.

Myth: Men and women experience the same heart attack symptoms.

Reality: Universal signs of heart attack include repetitive pressure or squeezing in the chest; shooting pain to the shoulder, arms, and neck; sweating; and shortness of breath. But women may also experience stomach pain and nausea; unexplained fatigue; racing heart rate; back pain; and jaw pain. Because these are not "classic" symptoms, many women delay seeking treatment.

Myth: Men have a greater risk of dying of a heart attack than women.

Reality: Post-menopausal women are more likely to have heart attacks than men. And, according to the American Medical Association, women have a 70% higher death rate than men following a heart attack. Most women don't seek help until several hours after symptoms first begin, which increases the risk of heart damage and cuts into valuable life-saving time.

Myth: Women recognize the seriousness of heart-health issues.

Reality: Studies show that only 8% of American women believe that heart disease, heart attack, and stroke are the greatest health problems facing women today. Only 31% mention them as the leading cause of death in women.