Carotid Artery Pain
During the past few years, there have been a lot of discussions and debates in regards to blocked arteries and coronary arteries that can result in a heart attack and other diseases related to the heart. When the carotid arteries get affected, the condition is mostly associated with pain in the arteries in the carotid areas.
For people who do not the different body parts that come under the carotid area, here is a simple explanation. Typically, these are the parts that located at the front part of the brain. This is the reason why when carotid artery pain begins; it is felt in the face and along the sides of the neck.
The carotid arteries are two major blood vessels or arteries whose function is to transport the oxygen rich blood to the very front part of the brain. These two blood vessels serve a number of very important areas, and when the supply of blood gets affected in these areas, the affected person experiences difficulties in speech, thinking, sensory, and even in motor and personality. These arteries are located on both sides of the neck, right below the jaw line.
If you feel pain in the carotid artery, this is a clear indication that you might be suffering from a carotid artery disease. These diseases develop due to the accumulation of too much cholesterol or fatty plaque that gets deposited on the inner walls of these arteries. It is the result of the complete blockage of these arteries that a person experiences a stroke. As is known, a stroke can be simply caused if the brain does not receive the required amount of oxygenated blood.
Carotid arteries are quite similar to coronary arteries. As is also the case with coronary arteries, the carotid arteries are also capable of developing a medical condition called atherosclerosis. This means the narrowing or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis can cause pain in the arteries because the elasticity of the arteries is lost when this hardening or narrowing takes place, and as a result, insufficient amount of oxygenated blood is supplied to the brain.
Another significant carotid disease is called carotidynia. It is in this condition that the arteries become dilated. Now, this could be on the either side, or in worst case scenarios, even on both sides. The artery pain caused by this condition can affect different areas of the body such as the face, neck, head or the ears.