Do you know about this important vein in your neck? Let's talk about the Carotid Artery.

Have you ever wondered what it feels like when you put your fingers on either side of your neck? Those are two very important blood vessels that beat at the same rate as our heart, and that carry life to our brain, face, and neck. Today we are going to talk about these two silent workers in our body, the Carotid Arteries. In this article, we will talk about how important their health is to our lives.

Simply put, what are the carotid arteries?

Imagine that our body is a big city. Then the blood vessels are like the roads in that city. These roads carry the necessary oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body. In that way, these carotid arteries are like two main highways leading to the brain, which is the control center of our body.

These two main arteries are located on either side of our neck, one on each side:

• Left common carotid artery
• Right common carotid artery

These two arteries start at the top of our chest, travel up our neck, and then split into two more main branches, about just below our jaw. It looks like the letter Y. We call this division the ``Carotid Bifurcation''.

Those two branches are:

1. Internal Carotid Artery: This is the main part of the highway. It goes directly into the skull, supplying blood to our brain .

2. External Carotid Artery: This branch supplies blood to the parts outside our skull, such as our face, neck, and scalp .

The arteries that divide in this way divide into many smaller branches, supplying oxygen-rich blood to every tissue and organ in our head and neck.

How exactly do these arteries work?

The main and only function of the carotid arteries is to carry oxygen-rich, clean blood pumped by the heart to the brain and other parts of the head without obstruction. This journey must be very smooth and fast.

But imagine, what would happen if garbage and trash accumulated somewhere on this highway and blocked the road? There would be a traffic jam, wouldn't there? That's how things like cholesterol are deposited inside these arteries (we call this `(Plaque)`) and if the artery narrows, the blood flow is obstructed. If that happens, serious conditions like stroke can occur.

Let's look at the anatomy of the carotid arteries in a little more detail.

This part is a bit medical, but let's try to keep it simple. You don't need to remember all of these names, but it's worth having a rough idea of ​​how they work.

External Carotid Artery

It starts at the point where it splits like the letter Y and goes up towards the ear. It divides into about 8 main branches. These branches supply blood to the muscles in our face, tongue, thyroid gland, earlobes, and scalp. When you touch your cheek, it turns red, and when you shave, it bleeds. All of this is connected to the branches that branch off from this external carotid artery.

Internal Carotid Artery

This is the most important branch. It travels up the neck and enters the skull through a special hole at the base of the skull called the ``Carotid Canal``. Once inside the skull, this artery follows a somewhat winding, complex path.

Inside the skull, this artery divides into several major branches. These supply blood to a large part of our brain and our eyes .

What are the diseases that affect these arteries?

Problems can arise on these expressways. If they do, the results can be very dangerous. Here are some of the main problems that are seen.

• Carotid Artery Disease: This is also called `(Carotid Artery Stenosis)`. `(Stenosis)` means ``narrowing.`` This happens because cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in the artery walls, forming a thick layer of `(Plaque).`` It's like rust and dirt build up inside a water pipe, blocking the way for water to flow. We call this condition `(Atherosclerosis).`` This `(Plaque)`` causes the artery to narrow, and sometimes a piece of it can break off and block a small blood vessel in the brain. Or, a blood clot can form on top of this `(Plaque)`, which can break off and block a vessel in the brain. This is a major cause of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a full-blown stroke .

• Carotid Artery Aneurysm: This is a weak spot in the wall of an artery, causing it to bulge out like a balloon. Blood clots can form at this bulge. It can also grow large and burst suddenly (rupture).

• Carotid Artery Dissection: This is a tear or rupture in the inner layer of the artery wall. This can obstruct or completely block blood flow. This can also lead to stroke.

• Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD): This is a fairly rare condition in which abnormal growth of cells in the artery walls can lead to narrowing of the arteries, aneurysms, or dissections.

Be very careful about these symptoms!

Many people with carotid artery disease do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms usually occur after an emergency, such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. Therefore, being aware of the following symptoms for you and your family can help save a life.

If any of these symptoms occur, do not delay for a second and immediately call the 1990 (Suvaseriya) ambulance service or go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU).

• One side of the face drooping or feeling lifeless.
• Slurring of words, inability to form words, or slurred speech when speaking .
• Sudden loss or blurring of vision in one or both eyes . It may feel like a black curtain is falling in front of the eyes.
• Numbness, weakness, or loss of sensation on one side of the body (arm, leg) .
• Loss of feeling on one side of the body.

How do you check your carotid arteries?

If your doctor suspects something is wrong with your carotid artery, the first thing they will do is place a stethoscope on your neck and listen to the sound of blood flowing through it. If the artery is narrowed, you may hear an unusual 'whooshing' sound (carotid bruit) as the blood flows.

Also, to further confirm the situation, you can refer to the following tests:

• Carotid Ultrasound: A simple, painless test that uses sound waves to look at how blood flows inside the arteries and how narrow they are. (Wait, "বির্ভাগন" is Bengali. I must avoid that. I'll rephrase: "সাব্দা তার্থানে মালিকা..."). A simple, painless test that uses sound waves to look at how blood flows inside the arteries and how narrow they are.
• CT Scan / CT Angiogram: Obtaining detailed images of the arteries using X-rays.
• MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram - MRA): Obtaining detailed images of the arteries using a magnetic field.
• Carotid Angiogram: A test that uses X-rays to clearly see the blockage in the artery by injecting a special fluid into it.

What are the treatments?

If your carotid artery is narrowed or blocked, there are treatments available. Treatment depends on how narrowed the artery is, what your symptoms are, and your overall health.

Treatment with medication

• Antiplatelet medications: Medications like aspirin reduce the risk of blood clots.
• Blood pressure medications: Because high blood pressure damages the arteries, it is essential to control it.
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs: Drugs such as ``Statins`` reduce the buildup of ``plaque`` on the artery walls.

Surgery and other methods

• Carotid Endarterectomy: This is a surgery that opens up the artery and scrapes out the plaque that has built up inside. This cleans the artery and restores blood flow.
• Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting: This is a procedure done through a small incision. A wire with a balloon attached to it is passed through the narrowed area of ​​the artery, and the balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed area. Then, a small mesh-like tube (Stent) is inserted to keep the area from narrowing again.

How can I keep my carotid arteries healthy?

There are many things you can do to keep your entire heart and vascular system healthy, not just your carotid arteries.

• Avoid smoking completely. Smoking is the biggest culprit in damaging your arteries. Ask your doctor for help quitting.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Adopt a Mediterranean diet that includes vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, and healthy fats like olive oil. Cut down on foods high in oil, sugar, and salt.
• Exercise regularly. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, such as walking, running, or cycling. Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight is a major cause of heart disease and narrowing of the arteries.
• If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol , follow your doctor's instructions and control them well.