Vertebral Artery Stenosis: What It Is & How It's Treated

Vertebral artery stenosis is a condition where one of the arteries supplying blood to your brain becomes narrowed, reducing critical blood flow and raising your risk of stroke. Like a kinked garden hose, even a partial blockage can have serious consequences. According to the American Heart Association, vertebral artery disease accounts for roughly 20% of all ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks. 

Fortunately, today's minimally invasive treatments can restore healthy blood flow with remarkable precision. Continue reading to learn what causes this vertebral artery stenosis, what your risk factors are, and where to get the most advanced treatment options from the best endovascular specialists in Lancaster. 

Vertebral Artery Stenosis: A Look at Causes and Symptoms

Most people have never heard of the vertebral arteries, but these two blood vessels do some of the most important work in your body. They run along the back of your neck, one on each side, and together they deliver blood to your brainstem and cerebellum. These are the parts of your brain that control your balance, coordination, vision, and even your ability to breathe and swallow. Stenosis is simply the medical word for narrowing. When plaque or other material builds up inside these arteries, the space for blood to flow through gets smaller. 

Because there are two vertebral arteries, some people with narrowing in just one may not notice symptoms right away, since the other artery can sometimes compensate. However, when both are affected, or when one is already the dominant supplier of blood, even moderate narrowing can cause serious problems. 

Causes of Vertebral Artery Stenosis

The most common cause of vertebral artery stenosis is atherosclerosis, which is the gradual buildup of fatty plaque along the inner walls of your arteries. This process is closely tied to risk factors like:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking

Over time, that plaque hardens and narrows the artery, reducing the space available for blood to pass through. In less common cases, the condition can develop from an arterial dissection, which is a small tear in the artery wall that causes blood to pool and restrict flow. 

Additional causes can include: 

• Inflammation from certain autoimmune conditions
• Physical compression from nearby neck structures
• Age
• A family history of vascular disease
• Physical inactivity

Symptoms of Vertebral Artery Stenosis

The symptoms of vertebral artery stenosis can be easy to dismiss, especially because they often come and go. Common symptoms include: 

• Dizziness or vertigo
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Difficulty walking
• Sudden arm or leg weakness 

One detail that often goes unrecognized is that symptoms can worsen when you turn or tilt your head, because that movement can put additional pressure on an already narrowed artery. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away rather than waiting to see if they pass on their own.

What Are the Best Treatment Options for Vertebral Artery Stenosis?

Treatment for vertebral artery stenosis depends on how severe the narrowing is and what symptoms you are experiencing. For mild cases, doctors may recommend lifestyle changes along with medications such as blood thinners or statins to reduce plaque buildup and lower your stroke risk. When the narrowing is more significant, the top endovascular neurosurgeon in Lancaster often recommends a minimally invasive procedure called angioplasty and stenting, which is often the most effective option. 

During this procedure, a thin flexible tube called a catheter is guided through a small puncture in your wrist or groin up to the affected artery. A tiny balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to open the narrowed vessel, and a small mesh tube called a stent is then placed inside the artery to hold it open and restore healthy blood flow. Most patients go home within one to two days and return to normal activity soon after. 

In rare and complex situations, the best vertebral artery stenosis treatment in Lancaster involves open surgical bypass, but advances in endovascular technology have made that approach far less common than it once was.

Finding the Best Endovascular Specialists in Lancaster for Vertebral Artery Stenosis Treatment

The symptoms of vertebral artery stenosis can be subtle at first, but the risks of ignoring those symptoms are real, and the window for prevention is something worth protecting. 

The good news is that treatment has come a long way, and a narrowed artery does not have to be a life-changing diagnosis. At the Vascular and Neuroscience Institute, we specialize in complex endovascular care with the most advanced endovascular technology available to pinpoint the problem, build a personalized treatment plan, and guide you through every step of the process with clarity. 

Our team of endovascular and neurosurgical experts helps patients go from frightening, unexplained symptoms to restored blood flow and renewed confidence in their health.

Ready to get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan with the best endovascular neurosurgeon in Lancaster?