Nowadays, living conditions are getting better and better, and middle-aged people are constantly concerned about their health. During physical examinations or when they go to outpatient clinics, they will ask, “Is carotid plaque serious? What is the test for carotid plaque? Do you have to take medicine for carotid plaque? Today, we will share with you about carotid plaque. First, let’s see how the plaque is formed? The formation of carotid plaque is the same as atherosclerosis and is influenced by many factors. Among them, age > 60 years, male, obesity, long-term smoking history, history of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, family cardiovascular disease are the risk factors for the formation of carotid plaque. 1.Vascular endothelial damage: The soft and smooth cell layer on the inner surface of blood vessels is stimulated by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, smoking, alcoholism, staying up late, etc., which breaks down and becomes uneven, increasing the resistance and friction when blood flows. 2.Fatty substance deposition: On the uneven endothelium of blood vessels, large molecules of fat are constantly deposited on it and continuously accumulate through the endothelial layer to the middle layer of the intima. 3, inflammatory reaction occurs: the fat that enters the middle layer of the intima constantly stimulates the proliferation of inflammatory cells and engulfs fat particles, which in turn are damaged and die, forming lipidized substances like porridge, replacing the normal tissues in the middle layer of the intima, leading to the occurrence of atherosclerosis. 4.Vascular plaque formation: The lipidized material in the intima of blood vessels is collected into clusters and wrapped by fibrous tissue, forming plaques. Second, what tests should be done to clarify it? 1.Carotid ultrasound is currently the preferred non-invasive carotid artery examination method, which is widely used for screening and follow-up of carotid artery sclerosis lesions. It can not only show the site and size of plaque, lumen narrowing site and severity, but also perform hemodynamic measurement and morphological evaluation of plaque. 2.Carotid CT angiography (CTA) CTA is more accurate than Doppler ultrasound in determining carotid artery stenosis, but the morphological display of plaque is poor. It is widely used in the diagnosis of stenosis and can be used as an important basis for preoperative diagnosis and formulation of treatment plans. 3.Carotid digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of carotid stenosis, which can evaluate the location, extent and degree of the lesion as well as the formation of side branches in detail. Third, in the face of carotid plaque, how should we prevent it? 1.First of all, we should quit smoking, but the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation will gradually decrease after quitting smoking; 2.If you are overweight or abdominal circumference, you should lose weight and reduce abdominal circumference; 3.Exercise, you should have a certain degree and time of exercise every day, which also helps to control blood sugar, blood lipid and blood pressure as well as weight control; 4.Eat healthy, less salt and less fat, more fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals, etc.; 5.Learn to regulate the rhythm of work and life and reduce stress 6.Frequent physical examination, early detection of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and other health problems related to atherosclerosis; 7.If found to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes, timely correction, control blood pressure, lipid and blood sugar at normal levels Carotid plaque is only a representative of systemic vascular lesions, and vascular plaque is the pathological basis for the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, stopping To stop the development of plaque is the fundamental to reduce the occurrence of heart attack, stroke and other unexpected events. If you want to know whether there is plaque in the carotid artery, you may want to have a carotid ultrasound first.