Every year, nearly 800,000 people have a stroke in the United States, and it is the fifth-leading cause of death and the most common cause of permanent disability. More than 80% of strokes are ischemic strokes, most often caused by narrowing or a blockage in the carotid arteries in the neck—the primary blood vessels that supply blood to the brain—restricting blood flow to the brain. While carotid endarterectomy, a surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery, has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, not all patients experience the same outcomes, according to a new study led by researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
