Carotid intima+media are closely connected, and 1.5mm is generally called carotid plaque.
Carotid plaque is actually very common, which is a secondary intimal change and a common senile lesion. It is a manifestation of the aging process, just like the truth that "the age is up and the hair is white". We often tell patients that the carotid artery is equivalent to a natural water pipe. If blood flows in it for a long time, it will rust or grow dirt. If there is too much rust and dirt, it is easy to form plaques. " In Japan, carotid artery ultrasound showed that 75. 1% of healthy people aged 46-74 had carotid artery plaque, while in China, carotid artery ultrasound was performed on 26,865,438+0 middle-aged and elderly people, and the detection rate of carotid artery plaque was 60.3%. In other words, more than half of greasy middle-aged people have carotid plaque, and everyone will have it. Take it easy.
02
Does finding carotid plaque mean that you are prone to stroke?
Carotid plaque can be divided into two types, one is stable plaque, and the other is vulnerable plaque (unstable plaque), in which unstable plaque is easy to fall off into the skull and cause stroke. Just now, 60-70% people will find carotid plaque during physical examination, while the incidence of stroke in China is 345.6438+0/ 1 10,000, which is 0.345%, so most carotid arteries.
Vulnerable plaque (unstable plaque) refers to plaque with more lipid components and inflammatory substances, which is easy to rupture, bleed, calcification or thrombosis-B-ultrasound often reports: low echo plaque or mixed plaque; High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance: active inflammation in the plaque, thin fibrous cap, large fat core, broken and damaged plaque, severe stenosis, etc.
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What should I do if I find carotid plaque?
If the carotid plaque is unstable (vulnerable plaque), it is recommended to take lipid-lowering drugs (statins-common ones are rosuvastatin and atorvastatin). ). Statins can not only lower blood lipid, but also stabilize plaque.
If the carotid plaque is stable and the blood lipid is within the normal range, statins can be taken without taking medicine, but lifestyle intervention should be strengthened, such as weight control, proper exercise, balanced diet, smoking cessation and alcohol withdrawal.
If carotid plaque is found, pay attention to strengthen the intervention of daily life, and regularly check carotid ultrasound and blood lipid. In most cases, there is no need to take medicine.