Complete blockage of the carotid artery, risk of stroke even without warning symptoms

Mr. P, 52 years old, a financial expert who always lives in a high-pressure environment, stays up late, and is stressed by numbers, was shocked when he discovered that his carotid artery and middle cerebral artery were completely blocked, and he was at risk of a stroke at any time, even though he was always confident that he was healthy thanks to regular exercise.

Shocked when "crack" appeared from deep inside

Mr. P. always believed that he was in good health. He exercised regularly and had no unusual symptoms until he went for a routine health check-up as required by his company.

Detecting complete blockage of the carotid artery, risk of stroke at any time even without warning symptoms -0

The results of the brain MRI - brain vessels completely stunned him: Complete occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and the right middle cerebral artery, poor collaterals, supratentorial demyelination nodules (Fazekas II). These are the main arteries that supply the brain, and their complete occlusion due to atherosclerosis has significantly reduced the blood supply to the brain. This condition puts Mr. P. at high risk of stroke if not promptly intervened.

Work and lifestyle pressure: The brain's "silent enemy"

Master. Doctor CKII Do Duc Linh - Director of the Center for Diagnostic Imaging, Hanoi General Hospital, who directly examined Mr. P., shared about the underlying cause of similar cases:

"People who work in high-pressure environments are susceptible to brain damage. Prolonged stress increases blood pressure, causing microscopic changes in blood vessels. Not only that, stress also causes many people to have unhealthy living habits such as uncontrolled eating, consuming a lot of sugary foods, or being too busy to exercise. These habits lead to diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes... These are all leading risk factors that weaken blood vessel walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques in the lumen of the vessels, thereby increasing the risk of stroke."

What is worrying, according to Dr. Linh, is that these risks often progress silently without any obvious warning symptoms. Meanwhile, the common habit of Vietnamese people is "only go to the doctor when in pain", which can cause patients to miss the golden time for treatment, or more seriously, threaten their lives.

Benefits of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, especially magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), plays an extremely important role in detecting complete carotid artery occlusion. This is a modern and effective imaging diagnostic method, bringing many outstanding benefits:

* High resolution: MRI/MRA provides detailed and clear images of blood vessels in the brain and neck area, helping doctors easily detect even the smallest abnormalities.

* Evaluation of vascular structure: It allows precise determination of the structure of the carotid artery, including the location, degree of complete obstruction, and nature of the atherosclerotic plaques causing obstruction.

* Detecting cerebral infarction: In cases where the carotid artery is completely blocked causing cerebral ischemia, brain MRI can detect areas of cerebral infarction (brain tissue damage due to ischemia) and assess the extent of damage.

* No radiation: One of the biggest advantages of MRI is that it does not use X-rays, so it is safe for patients, especially those who need regular monitoring or pregnant women.

Less likely to cause allergic reactions to contrast agents: In some cases, to enhance the image contrast, your doctor may inject a contrast agent. The contrast agents used in MRI are less likely to cause allergic reactions than the contrast agents used in CT scans.

* Painless: The MRI scan is completely painless, the patient just needs to lie still in the machine.

Regular health screening: An effective "shield" to protect yourself

Mr. P.'s case is the clearest evidence of the importance of regular health screening. This is the most effective and timely way to detect abnormalities hidden deep inside the body without warning symptoms.

Detecting complete blockage of the carotid artery, risk of stroke at any time even without warning symptoms -1

At Hanoi General Hospital, customers will experience a comprehensive - detailed - accurate health examination process from head to toe. With modern equipment and a team of experienced doctors, the hospital is capable of detecting abnormalities as small as 1mm, helping to diagnose early and intervene promptly before the disease becomes serious.

Don't wait until your body "calls for help", take the initiative to protect your health and your family's by getting regular screenings today!