Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
Liu Fang stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining her neck. She always felt that something was wrong with her neck recently, but she couldn't say what was uncomfortable. Liu Fang, 45 years old, works as a creative director in an advertising agency, and her work is not small. In recent months, she has often felt lightheaded, sometimes with brief blurred vision. Liu Fang blamed these symptoms on work fatigue, but she was faintly uneasy in her heart.
She touched her neck and suddenly noticed that there seemed to be some swelling on the left side. This discovery shocked Liu Fang, could there really be something wrong?
At this moment, Liu Fang's mobile phone rang. It was a call from her friend Zhang Yue for many years. Zhang Yue is a senior nurse who has worked in the central hospital for many years.
"Hey, Xiaofang, how are you doing? We haven't seen each other in a long time. Zhang Yue's voice was full of concern.
"It's okay, it's just that I've been a little busy lately." Liu Fang hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell her friend about her worries, "Sister Yue, I always feel uncomfortable in my neck recently, and sometimes I get dizzy, do you think I have some serious illness?"
Zhang Yue on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, "Xiaofang, can you describe your symptoms specifically?"
Liu Fang thought about it carefully, "I often feel dizzy, sometimes my vision suddenly becomes blurry, and I just found that the left side of my neck seems to be a little swollen." "
"Xiao Fang, listen to me," Zhang Yue's tone became serious, "These symptoms may be related to the blockage of blood vessels in the neck. I advise you to go to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible. "
Zhang Yue's words made Liu Fang's heart sink. She remembered an online article she saw a few days ago, titled "If you have these 3 symptoms, be careful of clogged blood vessels in your neck!" Timely screening, otherwise it is easy to have a cerebral infarction!" At that time, she just glanced at it casually, but she didn't expect that it would be related to herself now.
At Zhang Yue's insistence, Liu Fang asked for leave to go to the hospital for an examination the next day. After a series of examinations, doctors diagnosed Liu Fang with carotid artery stenosis and needed immediate treatment.
Doctor Wang Zhiming patiently explained her condition to Liu Fang, "Ms. Liu, carotid artery stenosis is a common vascular disease, mainly due to atherosclerosis causing the inner wall of the blood vessels in the neck to narrow or block. If left untreated, it can easily lead to serious complications such as cerebral infarction. "
Liu Fang listened to the doctor's words, not only glad that she had discovered the problem in time, but also worried about the unknown treatment process. She remembered the three major symptoms mentioned in that online article and couldn't help but ask, "Doctor, can you elaborate on the symptoms of carotid artery stenosis?" I want to know about it so that I can remind the people around me to pay attention. "
Dr. Wang nodded and began to explain in detail, "The main symptoms of carotid artery stenosis are as follows:
1. Lightheadedness: This is one of the most common symptoms. Due to the blockage of blood flow, the blood supply to the brain is insufficient, which can lead to dizziness and dizziness.
2. Abnormal vision: Some patients experience transient blurred vision or blindness, which usually lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. This is caused by insufficient blood supply to the retina.
3. Swelling or pain in the neck: Blockage of blood vessels in the neck may cause local swelling or pain.
4. Speech Disorder: Some patients may experience transient slurred speech or difficulty understanding.
5. Unilateral limb weakness: Sometimes there is sudden weakness in the arm or leg, usually short-lived.
6. Headaches: Some patients experience constant or intermittent headaches, especially in the neck or back of the head area.
If these symptoms occur, especially if multiple symptoms occur at the same time, it is important to be highly vigilant. It is very important to seek medical attention in a timely manner. "
Liu Fang listened attentively and couldn't help but lament her previous neglect of these symptoms. She remembered her father, a long-retired factory worker who had also complained of dizziness lately. Liu Fang decided that after going back, she must persuade her father to come for a check-up.
"Doctor, what is the cause of carotid artery stenosis? How can we prevent it?" Liu Fang continued to ask.
Dr. Wang patiently explained, "The main cause of carotid artery stenosis is atherosclerosis. As we age, the lining of blood vessels gradually deposits fat, cholesterol and other substances, forming plaques, resulting in narrowing of the inner diameter of blood vessels. In addition to age, there are lifestyle habits and diseases that can also increase the risk of disease, such as:
1. Smoking: The harmful substances in cigarettes can accelerate the process of atherosclerosis.
2. High blood pressure: Long-term high blood pressure can damage the inner wall of blood vessels and accelerate the formation of plaque.
3. High blood lipids: High cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood are easily deposited on the walls of blood vessels.
4. Diabetes: High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
5. Lack of exercise: Being sedentary reduces blood circulation and increases the risk of blood clots.
6. Poor eating habits: A diet high in fat, salt, and sugar can increase the risk of disease.
7. Excessive stress: Being in a state of high stress for a long time can affect cardiovascular health.
As for prevention, it is mainly from the lifestyle:
1. Quit smoking and limit alcohol: This is the most important point.
2. Control blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar: Regular physical examinations to detect and control these indicators in time.
3. Eat a reasonable diet: eat more vegetables and fruits, and reduce the intake of high-fat and high-salt foods.
4. Moderate exercise: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
5. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity increases the risk of disease.
6. Learn to reduce stress: Find a way to reduce stress that works for you to maintain your mental health.
7. Regular check-ups: Especially for people with family history or other high-risk factors, it is more important to pay attention to regular check-ups. "
After listening to the doctor's explanation, Liu Fang was thoughtful. She remembered her long-term bad habits: high work pressure, frequent late nights, irregular diet, and lack of exercise. This illness seemed to give her a wake-up call, reminding her that it was time to take her health seriously.
At this moment, the door of the ward was pushed open, and Liu Fang's husband Zhao Ming hurriedly walked in. Zhao Ming is an architectural designer and is usually very busy at work. Seeing his wife lying on the hospital bed, Zhao Ming's face was full of worry.
"Doctor, is my wife okay? Do I need surgery?" Zhao Ming asked anxiously.
Dr. Wang comforted, "Mr. Zhao, don't worry too much. Your wife's condition was discovered in a timely manner, and we are now ready to start with medication and lifestyle interventions. If the results are not satisfactory, surgery may be considered. "
Hearing that there was no need for immediate surgery, Zhao Ming breathed a sigh of relief. He held Liu Fang's hand and said, "Wife, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of you." "
Liu Fang looked at her husband's concerned eyes, and a warm current surged in her heart. She suddenly realized that health is not only about herself, but also about the happiness of the whole family.
In the days that followed, Liu Fang began a long road to recovery. She strictly followed the doctor's advice to adjust her lifestyle, quit smoking and limit alcohol, pay attention to her diet, and insist on exercising. Zhao Ming also fully supported his wife, and the two learned health knowledge together and supervised each other.
Gradually, Liu Fang's symptoms improved significantly. A follow-up examination three months later showed that her carotid artery stenosis had lessened. The whole family was relieved by the good news.
Through this experience, Liu Fang began to share her stories and health knowledge on social media. Through her own experience, she hopes to arouse more people's attention to the hidden but dangerous disease of carotid artery stenosis.
One day, Liu Fang received a private message from a strange netizen. The other party, a young man in his early 30s, recently had similar symptoms, and decided to go to the hospital for a check-up after seeing Liu Fang's sharing. The results of the examination showed that the young man did suffer from mild carotid artery stenosis. Thanks to timely detection, he was able to start treatment at an early stage of the disease.
Liu Fang was deeply touched by this incident. She realized that her experience had not only changed her life, but had the potential to help many more people. Since then, Liu Fang has been more active in spreading health knowledge, hoping to arouse more people's attention to their own health.
Looking back on this experience, Liu Fang was full of emotion. She is glad that she found the problem in time, and she is grateful for the care and support of those around her. This illness not only made her re-examine her lifestyle, but also made her realize the value of health.
Today, Liu Fang regularly participates in physical examinations after work, maintains good work and eating habits, and participates in various outdoor activities with her husband. Her story has also inspired many around her to take their health seriously.
Carotid artery stenosis, a hidden "silent killer", is dangerous, but as long as we remain vigilant and adopt a healthy lifestyle, we can greatly reduce the risk of disease. As Liu Fang often said: "Health is the most precious wealth in life, let us take care of it together to create a better future."