Up to 80% of strokes are preventable. The key is identifying carotid artery disease before it causes a stroke. These articles explain the risk factors, the warning signs most people miss, and how a simple carotid ultrasound can change the outcome.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of long-term disability. Many people picture it as sudden and unpredictable, but a large share of strokes trace back to a specific, detectable source: plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, the two vessels in the neck that carry the majority of blood to the brain.
Carotid artery disease develops silently. Plaque accumulates gradually over years, narrowing the artery and reducing blood flow, and it typically produces no symptoms until a piece breaks loose and triggers a stroke or transient ischemic attack. By the time someone notices something is wrong, the disease has often been progressing for a long time. This is what makes it dangerous — and what makes early detection so valuable.
A carotid duplex ultrasound detects this stenosis and plaque non-invasively, with no radiation and no needles, in about 20–30 minutes. Despite how effective this test is, many at-risk patients never get screened, largely because traditional imaging pathways require a physician referral and a trip to a hospital or imaging center. At BlackPoint Diagnostics, we bring carotid duplex screening directly to your home or workplace in Southern Maine, and no referral is required to schedule one. The articles below cover the risk factors, symptoms, and findings we're asked about most.
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