In the United States alone, there are 427,000 new diagnoses of carotid artery disease every year, and up to 3% of people over the age of 65 experience this condition. Carotid artery disease is a buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries, and if left untreated, these arteries will narrow and slow down blood flow to the brain. If blood flow stops or plaque fragments travel to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
Historically, severe cases of this disease were treated with carotid endarterectomy, an open surgery. However, St. Joseph Health is the first in the Brazos Valley to perform TransCarotid Artery Revascularization, a minimally invasive and safer alternative for lowering the risk of stroke.
Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented by eating healthy, exercising regularly, refraining from smoking, and treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. If you experience any of these conditions, schedule an appointment with your St. Joseph and Texas A&M Health Network primary care physician to discuss the right treatment.
The Stroke Center at St. Joseph Health is the region's front runner in stroke care, having been designated the first Joint Commission Certified Stroke Center in the Brazos Valley, and St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital was recently awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus.
If you have carotid artery disease, ask your doctor if TCAR is right for you.
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