Even as a child, from detective books and movie-militants, we learned that there is such a carotid artery on a person’s neck, slashing it with a palm or choking with a suffocating device, the hero or villain “cuts down” his victim. At a more mature age, we learn to find and measure the pulse on this very artery. And already closer to old age, we find that the carotid arteries are prone to severe diseases, leading to a stroke. As you can see, there are more than enough reasons to get to know this important organ better.
Arteries are those vessels through which the heart pumps blood to all internal organs and tissues of the human body. This is their difference from veins, which are channels for transporting blood in the opposite direction - to the heart. Since our brain constantly needs large amounts of oxygen, a lot of blood is supplied into it, which enters the two carotid and two vertebral arteries, with the main volume being just the carotid arteries. Hence the effect, due to which the carotid artery got its name - pressure on it in a certain way is perceived by sensitive receptors as an increase in pressure, the body immediately begins to reduce it, slowing down the work of the heart, as a result of which the person loses consciousness. Of course, this is not a dream in the literal sense, but it seems.
Usually they talk about the carotid artery as a whole, but since it is a paired organ, it is divided into the right and left branches. In addition, at about the Adam's apple level, each branch diverges into the outer and inner. The first provides blood supply to the face, and the second carries blood directly to the brain.
Since the external carotid artery on the neck is easily palpated, this property is often used in measuring the pulse, especially when the artery on the arm is not clearly defined. For this person they lay back or sit right on the chair, find the Adam's apple with the index and middle fingers, and next to him in a soft cavity they grope the beating vein of the carotid artery. Thus, it is easy to measure the pulse not only to someone, but also to oneself.
What diseases is the carotid artery susceptible to, because of what they occur and can they be avoided? The main threat to them is atherosclerosis, and it is not difficult to understand its origin. Normally, all arteries have smooth walls along which blood runs unhindered. However, with age, growths form on the walls, consisting of deposits of cholesterol and some other substances and called atherosclerotic plaques. Larger and larger plaques - denser artery wall, narrower lumen, weaker blood flow. With the development of atherosclerosis, the brain is getting worse and worse supplied with blood , and in the end it ends in a stroke. The second threat is from plaques - some of them are soft and brittle, cracks and tears form in them, the surface becomes rough. The body regards this as damage, and as a result, an inflammatory reaction develops and a blood clot forms around the plaque. Having reached a large size, it can completely block the blood flow or, having come off, clog a small artery somewhere. All these cases are fraught with the same threat - stroke.
You can’t look inside the artery, therefore it is very difficult to detect atherosclerosis at an early stage, and the first symptom, sadly, is often a stroke. However, headaches, periodic dizziness and fainting can alert. In these cases, it is necessary to undergo an examination - CT or MR angiography will allow to study the structure of arteries and blood flow. Perhaps not atherosclerosis is detected, but an aneurysm of the carotid arteries - thinning of the wall. When diseases are detected, they can be treated either with medication, or surgically, or with angioplasty and stening methods.
Can a disease be prevented? Quite. At least significantly reduce the risk. To do this, quit smoking, follow a diet, monitor body weight and exercise regularly. And then, until the very old age, the carotid artery will regularly supply the brain with life-giving blood flow.