The carotid artery is an important lifeline for the body, as about 70% of the brain’s blood supply comes from the carotid artery. Once abnormalities occur in the carotid artery, it is undoubtedly a time bomb for health, and carotid artery stenosis is a major problem that occurs frequently. When the carotid artery is narrowed, the blood flow will be slowed down and the blood supply to the brain will not be supplied in time, which will cause transient cerebral ischemic attack. In severe cases, ischemic strokes may occur, with unimaginable consequences. Therefore, patients must pay attention to it and go to the hospital as soon as possible to take relevant treatment measures. When it comes to treatment, we have to talk about sclerotic plaque. Most patients with carotid artery stenosis are inextricably linked to sclerotic plaque. Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, long-term smoking and alcohol abuse are all important risk factors for the formation of carotid plaque, and many people often ask, “How big is a carotid plaque considered serious? There are usually three criteria for carotid intima-media thickness IMT, normal IMT should generally be <1.0mm; IMT between 1.0-1.2mm is intimal thickening, >1.2mm is plaque formation and >1.4mm is carotid stenosis. The size of this plaque can generally be checked by ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound, and when the thickness is greater than >1.2mm, active medical attention is required. Usually, when the stenosis rate is less than 50% it is medically defined as mild, while when the stenosis rate is between 50% and 70% it is defined as medium-sized, and patients at this stage usually have significant symptoms. When the stenosis rate is higher than 70%, it is considered heavy. At this stage, drug treatment is basically ineffective and early surgical intervention is recommended. With the aid of a microscope, carotid endarterectomy is performed by cutting the outer wall of the carotid artery and peeling off the diseased intima, so that the inner wall of the carotid artery is smooth and the inner diameter is restored to its normal size, ensuring that the blood flow can run normally and thus effectively improving the blood supply to the brain.