What are carotid intima-media thickening and carotid plaque? Many friends' physical examination results often show that the carotid artery is thickened and has plaques. What does this mean? Carotid artery is divided into three layers, adventitia, medial layer and intima. Under normal circumstances, the sum of intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery is less than 0.9 mm If IMT of carotid artery is >; 0.9mm means that the intima-media thickness of carotid artery is thickened; If > 1.3 mm, carotid plaque will be formed. If the plaque expands further, it will lead to the stenosis of carotid canal, and in severe cases, it will lead to the decrease or even interruption of carotid blood supply, leading to serious consequences such as cerebral infarction.
Carotid plaque is a natural attribute of aging and a local manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Its development stages include: fatty streak stage, fibrous plaque stage, atherosclerotic plaque formation stage and secondary lesions (bleeding, rupture, thrombosis, calcification in plaque). Carotid plaque will appear more or less in the elderly over 60 years old. Carotid plaque is generally asymptomatic, and some (20-30%) will progress to transient ischemic attack (TIA), lacunar cerebral infarction and severe stroke.
The common causes of carotid plaque are 1, hypertension patients 2, hyperlipidemia patients 3, diabetes patients 4, hyperuricemia patients 5, elderly patients 6, smokers and alcoholics 7, less activity, staying up late and other unhealthy lifestyles. The most important are hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.
Prevent carotid plaque 1 and control blood pressure, blood lipid and blood sugar.
2. Quit smoking and limit alcohol.
3. Exercise actively and control your weight.
4. Regular carotid plaque screening. The American Heart Association suggests that carotid ultrasound should be performed when screening asymptomatic adults for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
5. If it is unstable plaque or plaque with a stenosis of more than 50%, it is suggested to use statins to control LDL-C below 1.8mmol/L regardless of whether the blood lipid is abnormal or not.
6. For patients with carotid plaque with plaque stenosis below 50%, if the blood lipid is within the normal range, consider whether to choose statins according to the stability of plaque and the risk-benefit ratio of medication.
7. Severe carotid stenosis can be treated by surgery or interventional therapy.