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will call you back within one business day. The carotid arteries
are large blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. When
these arteries are healthy, the brain gets all the oxygen and
nutrients it needs to function well. If the carotid arteries are
damaged, however, it can greatly increase your chances of
stroke. This is a sudden loss of brain function caused by a lack
of blood flow. In a healthy carotid artery, the inside of the
artery wall is smooth and open. But health problems such as high
blood pressure can damage the artery wall and make it rough.
This allows plaque (fatty deposits) to build up in the artery
wall. Blood clots may also form on the plaque. If pieces of
plaque or blood clot (called emboli) break off, they can flow in
the blood until they get stuck in a small blood vessel in the
brain. This blocks blood flow to a portion of the brain, causing
a stroke. Below are common symptoms of stroke. Call 911 right
away if you have any of