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6. What about treatment?
Your treatment depends on the results of your examination and tests. If you smoke you should stop completely. High blood pressure, high cholesterol or high sugar levels in the blood can often be helped by a healthier diet, although drugs may also be needed.
Aspirin may also be prescribed to make the blood less sticky. This reduces the risk of having a stroke or heart attack by about 25%. The dose of aspirin is small and does not usually cause indigestion.
If the ultra sound scan suggests that the carotid arteries in the neck are narrowed, then an operation to correct the narrowing may be necessary. This is called a carotid endarterectomy. Further test may be arranged before the operation including an x-ray of the arteries (arteriogram) and a scan of the brain (CT scan). More detailed information about these procedures is available - please ask your specialist.
Patient information prepared by Mr S. Ashley MS, FRCS, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and The Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
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