What is a carotid bruit?

The carotid bruit is the sound of erratic blood flow in one or more of your carotid arteries, which is pronounced "broo-ee." It is an indication that your blood is not moving smoothly through your artery. Instead, the blood flow is erratic and chaotic. The blood veins in your neck that feed blood to your brain are called carotid arteries.

On physical examination, a doctor may listen to a carotid bruit as part of a routine examination. It is possible that a carotid bruit could be the first indication of plaque buildup which has narrowed your carotid artery. Conversely, people who have healthy carotid arteries may sometimes develop a carotid bruit. Additionally, in patients with very severe carotid artery stenosis, a bruit is not necessarily present. Therefore, when evaluating whether you need more testing or treatment, your doctors consider this symptom as one part of an even larger scheme.

How do carotid bruit sound?

The whooshing sound of a carotid bruit is just like the rushing sound of water in a swift-flowing river. A carotid bruit cannot be heard alone. Instead, it is something your doctor can listen to using a stethoscope.

Your doctor gently presses the end of a stethoscope against various parts of your neck to look for a carotid bruit. As your healthcare provider listens to your blood flow through the stethoscope, you may need to take a deep breath and hold it for several seconds.

Your doctor will review with you what a carotid bruit could mean and whether you need more testing.

What is the cause of a carotid artery bruit?

The most common cause of a carotid bruit is atherosclerosis. The medical term for the accumulation of plaque, a fatty material, in arteries throughout the body is atherosclerosis. This plaque narrows your arteries' lumen, or opening, and therefore reduces blood flow. Blood clots can also result from plaque buildup. Blood flow in the area where the blood clot has developed may be cut off. Alternatively, it can migrate to another artery in your body and block blood flow there.

You might have a carotid bruit, which means that you have a buildup of plaque in your carotid artery. Plaque buildup in your carotid arteries can lead to carotid artery stenosis, which is the narrowing of a carotid artery.

Your carotid arteries have a large supply of oxygen-rich blood flowing to your brain. Hence, the probability of you ever experiencing an ischaemic stroke or TIA is high if your carotid arteries are obstructed by plaque. Blood flow to the brain is blocked or slowed in several situations.

It is essential to know whether you have carotid artery stenosis and the extent of its severity. The presence of a carotid bruit might suggest the accumulation of plaque, but it doesn't show how extensive the plaque is. This means that carotid artery stenosis cannot be diagnosed using only a carotid bruit. It's rather an initial step your provider will take to investigate further.

Changes in blood channel anatomy are one cause of a carotid bruit, but the most common reason is plaque buildup. For example, a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia, or FMD, may experience a carotid bruit. Your physician will examine your medical history in order to further determine the cause of your carotid bruit.

How serious is a carotid bruit?

While this is not always true, a carotid bruit can sometimes be an indicator of a significant problem. Sometimes it is a harbinger of the possibility of carotid artery stenosis. If your stenosis is severe, you will likely require treatment to prevent a TIA or stroke. If your problem is severe and you need treatment, your provider will tell you.

Is it common to have a carotid bruit?

Carotid artery stenosis does not always exist if you have a carotid bruit. Some carotid bruit patients are in good health and may not have a significant plaque buildup. In some individuals, the anatomy of blood vessels changes either naturally or due to illnesses such as FMD. Due to this reason, the diagnosis and treatment of carotid artery disease does not start with a carotid bruit.

What if I have a carotid bruit?

A carotid bruit will alert your doctor to a possible problem. Your doctor will likely recommend some additional tests in order to examine the condition of your carotid arteries. A carotid duplex ultrasound is most often used for the purpose. The test is a non-invasive and pain-free inspection of the flow of blood within your carotid arteries. It may disclose whether your arteries are narrowed to what extent.

If you have a carotid bruit and one or more risk factors for carotid artery stenosis, your doctor will probably prescribe these tests. These include:

• Coronary heart disease.
• Either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• History of stroke in the family.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Elevated cholesterol.
• Older age (over 55 if you have additional risk factors, or over 65).
• Disease of the peripheral arteries.
• Use of tobacco.

The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of developing carotid artery stenosis.

Your doctor may first recommend tests to evaluate your carotid arteries if you need coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This is because some heart surgeries increase your chance of stroke if you have carotid artery stenosis. You may need treatment before surgery to lower your risk.

What treatments might I require?

Some people with carotid bruits have treatment to cut down on their chance of experiencing a stroke or TIA. The purpose of treatment is to widen your carotid arteries so that you have adequate blood flow.

The first point of treatment is usually medication, especially if your carotid arteries are not severely narrowed. Your physician may recommend one or more of the following medications based on your condition:

• Blood pressure medication.
• Cholesterol-lowering medicine.

Lifestyle changes also can have a huge impact. To decrease the plaque that accumulates in your arteries, do the following:

Avoid any tobacco products, including smoking. Smoking damages your blood vessels and increases your chances of developing several types of cardiovascular diseases. Ask for resources to help you quit from your provider.

• Consume heart-healthy food: Limiting your consumption of sugar, sodium, and saturated fat is part of a heart-healthy diet. Additionally, choose lean chicken, turkey, or fish instead of red meat.
• Engage in regular exercise: Work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week by starting out slowly. Before beginning a new workout program, find out from your healthcare professional what is safe for you.

You may need surgery or another treatment if your carotid artery stenosis is more advanced. These include:

• A carotid endarterectomy, which is a procedure to clean out plaque in the carotid artery
• Carotid angioplasty and stenting: This surgery creates an opening of your carotid artery through a device known as a stent.

Not all carotid bruit patients require treatment or have obstructions. To learn more about what your carotid bruit means to you, consult your healthcare doctor.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for carotid bruit?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most experienced professional in the country, with the finest neurologist and neurosurgeons specialized in carotid bruit. Tender Palm stands out as the premier Neurology hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.

To seek an expert consultation for any Neurology condition

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