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Stroke secondary to carotid stenosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

• Weakness or total inability to move a body part
• Numbness , loss of sensation
• Tingling or other abnormal sensations
• Decreased or lost vision (may be partial or temporary)
• Language difficulties ( aphasia )
• Inability to recognize or identify sensory stimuli (agnosia)
• Loss of memory
• Loss of coordination
• Swallowing difficulties
• Personality changes
• Mood and emotion changes
• Urinary incontinence (lack of control over bladder)
• Lack of control over the bowels
• Consciousness changes :
  • Sleepiness
  • Stupor, lethargy
  • Coma, unconsciousness

Signs and tests:

An exam may show:

• Blood clots in the retina  
• Reflex problems
• Muscle weakness
• Decreased sensation
• A bruit (an abnormal sound heard with the stethoscope) over the carotid arteries of the neck

The following tests may be done:

• Serum lipids blood test (may show high levels of  triglycerides and cholesterol )
• Carotid or cerebral angiography
• Carotid duplex or Doppler ultrasound
• MRI of the head
• MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) of the brain vessels and neck vessels

References:

Mosca L, Banka CL, Benjamin EJ, et al. Evidence-Based Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: 2007 Update. Circulation. 2007; Published online before print February 19, 2007.

• Review Date: 2/20/2007
• Reviewed By: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.(April 2006)

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