Questions posted in the
Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: Carotid Artery Blockage hi. my mom is 73 years old. she has a history of heart problems: - heart attack around age 50, - a cleaning out of one carotid artery when she was 61 - tripple bypass at 68, etc. she smoked probably 85 percent of the time from age 12 til age 68. her diet is very poor. her carotid arteries were tested about three years ago. the blockage a few weeks ago, the arteries were tested again - 90 and 95 percent im not sure what to expect or what kind of questions to ask now or thank you for your time jean ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With the degree of blockage you describe, surgery is usually recommended to prevent a stroke. Surgery itself is associated with a risk of stroke, so you would want to be evaluated at a center that is experienced in treating carotid artery disease. In addition, there is a newer method to treat carotid artery blockages called carotid artery stenting. This is similar to a cardiac catheterization and angioplasty from the patient's perspective. Specific considerations in your mother's case should include whether she has had any progression of her coronary artery disease that would place her at higher risk of surgery. The previous carotid surgery also makes things more difficult this time. The American Heart Association web site has info on carotid artery disease: www.amheart.org. I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back. I wish you the best of luck. If you would like to set up an appointment with one of our cardiologists here at the Cleveland Clinic please feel free to call 1-800-CCF-CARE. Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of any particular medical condition can only be made by your physician(s).
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