The carotid artery is positioned in both sides of the neck that supply blood to the head and brain. Conditions affecting the carotid arteries specifically atherosclerosis can result to obstruction that disrupts with the blood flow to the head.
The blockage of the carotid artery is often left unnoticed until significant side effects of the disease arise. Some of these include transient ischemic attack and stroke that can cause several evident effects.
Visual effects
If there is an obstruction in the carotid artery, it disrupts with the blood flow to certain parts of the brain responsible for controlling sight. This results to the damage or loss of vision. It is important to note that the effects of a blocked carotid artery can manifest abruptly and only affect one eye.
Pain or discomfort
Ischemia is characterized as diminished blood flow to the cells. In case the brain cells are deprived of sufficient oxygen and essential nutrients due to a blocked carotid artery, they are damaged.
This results to a severe headache as well as vomiting, nausea, stiff neck and even loss of consciousness in some cases.
Dizziness and confusion
A blocked carotid artery can also lead to confusion, dizziness and loss of short-term memory. This effect is quite evident once it leads to the slurring of speech or jumbled or if they halt in the middle of a sentence when talking.
Some individuals could not speak. In most cases, the dizziness can be severe that the individual could not stand or walk normally.
Paralysis
A blocked artery can disrupt with the flow of blood to parts of the brain responsible for controlling the skeletal muscular motor function. Remember that this side effect can lead to weakness, paralysis, numbness or tingling in other parts of the body.
If there are initial indications of a blocked carotid artery and transient ischemic attack, these effects are usually brief and the individual can regain full muscular control and strength. Nevertheless, if the obstruction in the carotid artery is severe, lasting damage and paralysis in other parts of the body can occur.