Could my carotid artery be blocked?

Question

I am only 27 (female). I have been feeling pressure in the left side of my neck (sometimes down to my collar bone area) for quite some time, on and off. It gets worse when I eat alot and sometimes after I smoke a cigarette (I know, I HAVE to quit).

I went to the doctor who put me on a heart monitor and said everything was ok. This was about 2 years ago. I honestly dont recall if they did a sonogram. I have been having a weird 'pressure' feeling in my left lung area and they did a sono of that (it was nothing but I still feel it) so they might have sono'd my neck at the same time,,,i dont remember. They did x-rays of my chest, there was also nothing. I had kidney stones a year ago.

I do have high cholesterol. I am 5'9 190 lbs. I know I need to quit smoking, lose weight, etc but does anyone think they might know what this is? I started a new job and dont have insurance until Decemeber. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm not an expert but I would hazard a guess that if your artery was blocked you wouldn't be alive right now to be able to ask this question....the only people who can tell you what's wrong for sure are medical people, so if you are concerned about your health then your best bet is to go and see a doctor.

Answer 2

I do not want to scare you but: The symptoms you are describing can be a serious condition, but it could be something as simple as heartburn, eating can irritate the phrenic nerve (runs along the esophagus) and give some people heart attack like symptoms, so severe people have all the typical MI symptoms. I understand insurance and if you are without coverage can be a preexisting condition if seen for it and not covered when insurance finally kicks in. STOP SMOKING! If you do have a blockage, smoking will make you have decreased circulatory oxygen and bring on symptoms. In your question you named the top three risk factors for blockages. smoking, high cholesterol and being overweight. If you cannot get to the MD which I suggest, then try to do the things he will tell you to do. Exercise, no smoking, healthy diet, try oatmeal or cheerios but have been shown to lower cholesterol if eaten daily. You can get your medical records by going to the hospital or MD office. They should tell you whether you have had a sonogram of your carotid arteries are not. You don't have to give a reason for getting your records, they are yours you have a right to them. Good Luck, prayers with you.

Answer 3

You wouldn't be sitting there reading this answer- if your Carotid Artery was blocked, believe me! But you have enough "risk factors"- that make me VERY concerned that you have high Cholesterol, high Blood Pressure, - & god only knows WHAT! You KNOW what a Doctor is GOING to tell you after your Insurance "kicks in" & you see one in December (& you're a FOOL- if you DON'T). -So instead of waiting around & getting even MORE stressed out WORRYING what's wrong with you, -why don't you START working on REDUCING those risk factors- NOW??! ...If you DON'T, you may not have to worry about going to see a Doctor for a Checkup- afterall... -Or anything ELSE, for that matter! Take the hint; it's YOUR life. :(

Answer 4

When you've got blockage in a carotid, you don't get external symptoms. It takes a lifetime of high cholesterol to block your carotids- certainly not found in a 27 year-old.

Best thing you can do is eat right, exercise, quit smoking, quit thinking so much, and get it checked out when you have insurance.

(also, lots of people DO live with a blocked carotid because of a major anastamosis called the circle of willis, where your basilar and vertebral arteries make up for a blocked carotid)

Answer 5

Visit your doctor again, and ask if he or she is able to hear any "bruits" (bru-ies) in your carotid arteries. (The doctor should listen to the carotid arteries with a stethoscope.)

It is also possible that there may be a narrowing of your aorta.

You already know the best things for you to take remedial action for yourself; quit smoking and lose weight. These two things may relieve the pressure that you feel.