The causes of Carotid Artery Disease includes:

- Modifiable causes 

- Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of carotid artery disease 

- Smoking, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet

- Non-modifiable causes

- Age (women who are over the age of 75 have a greater risk than men in the same age group, and men ytounger than the age of 75 are more susceptible to developing carotid artery disease than women in the same age group)

- Family history of the disease 

- Those who suffer from Coronary Artery Disease (hardening of the arteries supplying blood to the heart) are more susceptible to developing Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid Artery Disease might be asymptomatic. TIA can occur if the plaque build-up is undetected and can increase the risk of stroke immensely. 

TIA symptoms are temporary and can vary between from a few minutes to a few hours, also they might include any of the following: 

- Difficulty swallowing

- Difficulty talking 

- Numbness, tingling or weakness on one side of the face or body, or in one arm or leg

- Sudden dizziness or confusion 

- Sudden lack of coordination, balance, and difficulty in walking

- Sudden loss of or blurred vision

- Sudden severe headache

- It is vital that you seek emergency help to receive immediate treatment in order to prevent the progression to a stroke

Your doctor will examine your condition and discuss with you the best treatment options that are tailored just for you. These might include a mixture of: 

Lifestyle changes 

Limit alcohol consumption

Maintain a healthy diet 

Maintaining control of your blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart diseases

Quit smoking

Take regular exercises 

Medication to reduce the risk of stroke and other heart disease complications, as well as clot-dissolving medications

Surgery to unblock the artery and prevent future strokes

The most common complication of carotid artery disease is a stroke. Strokes can lead to:

Death 

Muscle weakness and paralysis

Permanent brain damage