Narrowing of the carotid artery
Statistically, it was found that 20% of all strokes were due to constriction of the carotid artery caused by calcification.
In Germany, approximately 250,000 people suffer a stroke every year.
The risk factors of carotid artery stenosis (then stroke risk factors) are divided into two groups:
Assured and non-influenceable risk factors:
Age: the circulatory disorder is more frequent with age.
Gender: men are more affected than women.
Positive familial disposition in 1st degree relatives
Ethnicity: Colored people have a higher risk of stroke than whites.
Confirmed and influenceable risk factors:
Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, idiopathic atrial fibrillation, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity......
The narrowing of the carotid artery can be reliably diagnosed by duplex sonography, which is why many strokes can be avoided by duplex sonography of the carotid artery in the above-mentioned risk patients.