2. what is carotid angioplasty?
Carotid angioplasty (kuh-ROT-id AN-jee-o-plas-tee) is a procedure that opens clogged arteries to prevent or treat stroke. The carotid arteries are located on each side of your neck and are the main arteries supplying blood to your brain.

3. Why Undergo Carotid Angioplasty?
Patient is having 70 percent blockage or more in the carotid artery. This is especially true in case they have had a stroke or symptoms of stroke & are in good overall health so as to undergo surgery. For example, this is a good medical solution for patients who are having severe heart or lung disease, or have undergone radiation therapy for neck therapy for neck tumors.
Ideal for patients where stenosis (narrowing) in carotid artery is difficult to access with endarterectomy procedure.
Carotid angioplasty & stent placement procedure may be an appropriate solution for treatment & prevention of strokes in the following conditions.
Patients who have already undergone carotid endarterectomy & are now experiencing newer narrowing (restenosis) following surgery.

4. Risks & Complications of Carotid Angioplasty
Restenosis – New Narrowing of Carotid Artery – Major drawback of carotid angioplasty procedure is the chance that the patient’s artery may re-narrow within months following this procedure. This is the reason why stents have been developed so as to reduce risk of restenosis in carotid angioplasty patients.
Risks & Complications of Carotid Angioplasty
Bleeding – Carotid angioplasty patients may bleed at the incision site in the leg where catheter is inserted. Most often, this simply results in a bruise, but at times it can result in serious bleeding & may require additional surgical procedures or a blood transfusion.
Blood Clots – Blood clots are also found to form at times within stents either weeks or months after carotid angioplasty procedure. These blood clots may in some cases cause stroke or even death. It is therefore important for patients to take aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) or some other medication as prescribed by the cardiac surgeon so as to decrease chances of blood clot formation within the stent.

5. Preparing for Carotid Angioplasty
Ultrasound – Scanner is passed over carotid artery in this examination in order to produce images using sound waves of the narrowed carotid artery & of blood flow to the brain.
MRA – Magnetic Resonance Angiography or CTA – Computerized Tomography Angiography – These examinations are able to provide highly detailed images of blood vessels, either by using radiofrequency waves within a magnetic field or by using X-rays along with contrast material.
Carotid Angiography – During this examination a contrast material which is visible on X-rays is injected into carotid artery so that these blood vessels can be seen & examined.

6. Lifestyle Changes Following Carotid Angioplasty
Avoid Smoking
While there are a number of ways to quit smoking, not all of them are equally successful. Here we will break down What Is the Most Effective Way to Quit Smoking that has been used with the most success by those who quit. Keep in mind that success rates will not be the same for everyone. 

7. Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important to staying healthy. As people gain weight, their risks for high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and heart disease all increase. 

8. Exercise
Exercise is also known as physical activity. In simple terms exercise is any movement that works your body at a greater intensity than your usual level of daily activity. Exercise raises your heart rate and works your muscles and is most commonly undertaken to achieve the aim of physical fitness.

9. Lower Cholesterol
Omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL cholesterol. They have other heart benefits, such as helping to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol, reducing your triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood, and reducing blood pressure.

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