The carotid artery is the main source of blood supply to the brain, and its importance cannot be overstated. However, many people do not know that the carotid artery is prone to abnormal problems due to various factors. Sclerotic plaques are one of the major problems that often form and, once created, can block blood flow, causing the carotid lumen to become thinner and thinner, resulting in carotid artery stenosis at a certain point. If left untreated, carotid artery stenosis can easily lead to cerebral ischemia, transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke, which can threaten the life and health of patients. Therefore, once carotid artery stenosis is diagnosed, treatment is urgently needed. Medication and surgery are the two main ways to treat carotid stenosis, and medication is generally indicated for mild carotid stenosis, i.e., stenosis less than 50%. For moderate carotid stenosis (more than 50% stenosis) and severe carotid stenosis (more than 70% stenosis), surgical treatment may be necessary to achieve the desired results. Is surgery necessary for carotid stenosis over 70%? When it comes to surgery, many people are concerned about safety, and some are even reluctant to undergo surgery even if their stenosis exceeds 70%. It is necessary to clarify here that if the stenosis exceeds 70%, it means that the sclerotic plaque is severely blocked, and the effect of medication alone is very little, so surgery is needed to remove the sclerotic plaque to achieve the treatment purpose. If the disease is allowed to develop unchecked, it will cause occlusion of the carotid artery, which will lead to bigger problems and make treatment more difficult. Carotid occlusion needs to be treated by bypass surgery. Therefore, for patients with carotid artery stenosis over 70%, it is recommended to operate as early as possible.