Sleepy artery "sleep" should not!

Even as a child, from detective books and film-shooters, we learned that there is a carotid artery in the person's neck, rubanuv on which with his palm or by squeezing a suffocating device, the hero or villain "cuts out" his victim. At a more mature age, we learn to find and measure the pulse on this very artery. And already closer to old age, we find that carotid arteries are prone to serious diseases leading to a stroke. As you can see, there are more than enough reasons to get acquainted with this important organ more closely.

Arteries are those vessels through which the heart pumps blood to all internal organs and tissues of the human body. In this, their difference from the veins, which are the channels for transporting blood in the opposite direction - to the heart. Since our brain constantly needs large amounts of oxygen, it is fed with a lot of blood, which comes through two sleepy and two vertebral arteries, with the bulk falling just on the carotid arteries. Hence, the effect due to which the name of the carotid artery is called - pressing on it in a certain way is perceived by sensitive receptors as an increase in pressure, the body immediately starts to reduce it, slowing the work of the heart, as a result of which a person loses consciousness. Of course, this is not a dream in the literal sense, but it seems.

Usually talk about the carotid artery as a whole, but, since it is a paired organ, it is divided into the right and left branches. In addition, approximately at the Adam's level, each branch diverges into the outer and the inner branches. The first provides the blood supply to the face, and the second carries blood directly to the brain.

Because the external carotid artery on the neck is easily probed, this property is often used in measuring the pulse, especially when the artery on the arm is not clearly defined. For this person, they are laid flat on their backs or sit directly on a chair, they find the Adam's apple with the index and middle fingers, and beside him in a soft depression they grope for the beating vein of the carotid artery. Thus it is easy to measure the pulse not only to someone, but also to yourself.

What diseases are affected by the carotid artery, because of what they occur and can they be avoided? The main threat to them is atherosclerosis, and it is not difficult to understand its origin. Normally, all arteries have smooth walls, along which blood runs unchecked. However, with age on the walls formed growths, consisting of deposits of cholesterol and some other substances and called atherosclerotic plaques. More and larger than a plaque - the wall of the artery is denser, there is already a lumen, the blood flow is weaker. With the development of atherosclerosis, the brain is increasingly supplied with blood , and in the end the case ends in a stroke. The second threat from plaques - some of them are soft and brittle, they form cracks and tears, the surface becomes rough. The organism regards this as a damage, and as a result an inflammatory reaction develops and a thrombus forms around the plaque. Having reached a large size, it can completely block the blood flow or, tearing itself away, to clog up a small artery somewhere. All these cases are fraught with the same threat - stroke.

Inside the artery does not look, so to identify atherosclerosis at an early stage is very difficult, and the first symptom, sadly, is often a stroke. However, headaches, periodic dizziness and fainting may be of concern. In these cases, it is necessary to undergo examination - CT or MR angiography will allow to study the structure of the arteries and blood flow. Perhaps, it is not atherosclerosis, but an aneurysm of carotid arteries - thinning of the wall. When detecting diseases, they can be treated with either medication, or surgically, or by angioplasty and stenting.

Is it possible to prevent the disease? Completely. At least, many times reduce the risk. To do this, you must quit smoking, follow a diet, monitor body weight and exercise regularly. And then the carotid artery will regularly supply the brain with life-giving blood flow to the old age.