Last night, Mom called as Dad's blood pressure was high (194/102) and he was complaining about pain from his neck to his elbow.
They went to the emergency room in Lake City. He had an EKG and a chest xray. The EKG was good and the chest xray showed mild arthritis in his neck and some plaque buildup. The hospital wanted to keep him overnight for observation and then call the VA Hospital in Des Moines in the morning. But Dad was stubborn and said he could call the VA in the morning himself. So they left the hospital about midnight.
FYI. - plaque in the neck arteries is called carotid artery stenosis. The carotid arteries are two blood vessels that run along either side of you neck to supply blood to your head and brain. The carotid arteries are the most commonly infiltrated blood vessels in your neck. Symptoms of plaque buildup in your neck arteries include sudden weakness, pain or numbness affecting your face, leg or one side of your body. You can also have slurred speech and become blind in one of your eyes.
The first symptom, chest pain, is also called angina. It may result from reduced blood flow to the heart. That reduced blood flow is caused by plaque in the arteries leading to the heart. Clogged arteries in carotid artery disease may cause stroke precursors known as transient ischemic attacks.
Tests for clogged arteries include: cholestrol screening, CXR, CT Scan, ultrasound, MRI, Pet Scan or angiogram.
Treatment includes:
1) Lifestyle changes - eating a diet low in saturated fats/cholestrol and rich in fruits and vegetables; maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; exercising regularly and managing stress levels.
2) Surgical procedures - Stent placement: A metal tube called a stent, which may contain medication, can be placed in an artery to maintain adequate blood flow.Balloon angioplasty: This procedure helps open clogged arteries that have become partially or fully blocked. Bypass surgery: Arteries from other parts of the body are moved to bypass clogged arteries and help oxygen-rich blood reach its target destination.
3) Medications - cholestrol lowering drugs; blood pressure lowering drugs and aspirin to reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming.
The call to the VA Hospital this morning has not yet been returned. His blood pressure today is running between 158/91 and 150/79. So I will update you all when I know more.
They went to the emergency room in Lake City. He had an EKG and a chest xray. The EKG was good and the chest xray showed mild arthritis in his neck and some plaque buildup. The hospital wanted to keep him overnight for observation and then call the VA Hospital in Des Moines in the morning. But Dad was stubborn and said he could call the VA in the morning himself. So they left the hospital about midnight.
Tests for clogged arteries include: cholestrol screening, CXR, CT Scan, ultrasound, MRI, Pet Scan or angiogram.
Treatment includes:
1) Lifestyle changes - eating a diet low in saturated fats/cholestrol and rich in fruits and vegetables; maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; exercising regularly and managing stress levels.
2) Surgical procedures - Stent placement: A metal tube called a stent, which may contain medication, can be placed in an artery to maintain adequate blood flow.Balloon angioplasty: This procedure helps open clogged arteries that have become partially or fully blocked. Bypass surgery: Arteries from other parts of the body are moved to bypass clogged arteries and help oxygen-rich blood reach its target destination.
3) Medications - cholestrol lowering drugs; blood pressure lowering drugs and aspirin to reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming.
The call to the VA Hospital this morning has not yet been returned. His blood pressure today is running between 158/91 and 150/79. So I will update you all when I know more.
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