Causes and Diagnoses

Carotid Artery Disease Causes and Diagnoses

Atherosclerosis is a slow process in which deposits of fat, cholesterol and calcium build up inside the carotid artery. Atherosclerosis cannot be cured. However, research shows that modifying your risk factors can prolong and improve the quality of your life. The key is to know your risk factors and to modify them.

Risk factor modification

Research shows that modifying your risk factors can improve the quality of your life. Risk factors are habits, traits or conditions that may increase a person's chance of developing atherosclerosis, a major cause of stroke, heart and vascular disease.

Some risk factors for cardiac or vascular disease are a result of genetics and cannot be prevented. These include:

• Family history of the onset of disease in men, 55 years of age or younger
• Family history of the onset of disease in women, 65 years of age or younger
• If you are a male
• If you are a post-menopausal female

Risk factors that can be modified include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity/overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Stress