Doctors call for awareness for carotid artery disease

UP to 50 percent of stroke is preventable through control and treatment of carotid artery diseases, medical experts told an international medial forum over the weekend.

Stroke is one of the leading killers for Chinese. Carotid artery problem is a major risk for stroke. Narrowness and blockage of the carotid artery can cause a lack of blood supply to the brain and the dropping of plaque can cause stroke.

“People with carotid artery blockage of over 50 percent with symptoms and those with a more serious blockage of greater than 70 percent but without symptoms should receive treatment such as surgery to prevent stroke,” said Dr Qu Lefeng from Shanghai’s Changzheng Hospital. “Many Chinese people don’t know the importance of carotid artery problems and even many doctors have not enough awareness. In the United States, over 100,000 carotid artery surgeries are done every year to prevent stroke, while there are only some 3,000 surgeries in China.”

Doctors said healthy life style like quitting smoking, balanced diet and proper exercise can protect carotid artery health, while a simple carotid ultrasound imaging can identify its problems easily.