Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: Carotid Ultrasound
Forum: The Heart Forum

Topic Area: Ischemia

Posted by Lena on August 02, 1999 at 12:17:17

Dear Doctor. I hope I am posting this in the right forum.

Thursday, I am scheduled to have this. I am a 60 year old female and am wondering for my age what is classed as normal thickening for a 60 year old. I am reading about various percentages of blocking as we age and am concerned. My GP states if there is blockage he will put me on cholesterol reducing drugs even though the choleterol readings are good.
the LDL is a tad high. If there is a blockage can this be reversed with cholesterol reducing meds or should this be reamed out?

Thank you for your most welcomed input.

Lena

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on August 02, 1999 at 16:13:32

Dear Lena

Depending on the severity of blockage seen on ultrasound and the symptoms you are having, surgery (carotid endarterectomy) may be necessary. If you have only a mild blockage, surgery is not recommended, and medicines such as aspirin and anti-cholesterol agents are usually appropriate. Mild blockages do not always get worse, nor do medicines always make them go away - it is difficult to predict ahead of time what will happen.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.



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