6 Steps to Keep the Arteries In Your Neck Clear

A narrowed artery in your neck can go unnoticed for years.

The biggest difference is where neck arteries send blood. Coronary arteries supply your heart muscle, arteries in your legs supply your legs and feet, and two pairs of arteries in your neck supply your brain. That direct connection is why a blockage in a neck artery can cause a stroke.

• Carotid arteries run along either side of your windpipe. Each splits into an internal branch that supplies much of the brain and an external branch that supplies areas such as the face, scalp, and neck.
• Vertebral arteries run deeper in the neck, up through the bones of the spine. They supply the back of the brain, including the brainstem and cerebellum.

Carotid arteries can develop plaque buildup just like arteries elsewhere in the body. Plaque can narrow the artery, and a piece of plaque or a clot can break loose, travel upstream to the brain, and block a smaller vessel. That’s one way an ischemic stroke, a stroke caused by blocked blood flow, can happen. Carotid narrowing can be present without symptoms.

While there’s no proven home remedy that clears plaque like a clogged drain, the goal is to lower your risk of a stroke. And you can do that by slowing plaque buildup, managing the conditions that contribute to it and, in some cases, treating the narrowing. Here’s how to do it.

1. Know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers

High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and diabetes can all raise your risk of carotid artery disease. At your next checkup, ask for your actual numbers and the targets that make sense for you.

From our partner

Living with AIH Looks Different for Everyone. Learn about a clinical study enrolling adults with autoimmune hepatitis.

Blood pressure. A normal adult reading has a top number below 120 and a bottom number below 80, measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If you’re being treated for high blood pressure, the usual treatment goal is below 130/80 mm Hg, though your clinician may tailor it to your health.

Cholesterol. A standard cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel, gives you several numbers. These are common adult reference levels.

If you already have plaque in your carotid arteries or have had an ischemic stroke, ask whether you need a lower LDL target, such as below 70 mg/dL. A total cholesterol result under 200 can look reassuring, so ask for your LDL result specifically. If you have diabetes, ask for your latest A1C, which reflects your average blood sugar over the past few months, and review your personal goal.

2. Build habits that protect your arteries

If you smoke, ask your healthcare team about help quitting. For meals, start with changes you can repeat. Season greens or beans with garlic, vinegar or spices so you can use less salt. Choose unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, more often in place of butter. If walking is safe for you, a short walk after dinner is one way to make regular activity part of your day. These habits support blood pressure and cholesterol management over time.

From our partner

Find a Doctor in Your Neighborhood! It's Easy! Just click here...

3. Take prescribed medication and ask before starting aspirin

If you have carotid artery disease, your clinician may prescribe a statin to lower LDL cholesterol, medication to manage blood pressure, or an antiplatelet drug such as aspirin to reduce the chance of a clot. Ask your clinician before starting daily aspirin. Whether it’s right for you depends in part on your bleeding risk and whether you’ve already had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

4. Ask what a diagnosed narrowing means for you

If you’ve already been told you have carotid narrowing, ask how severe it is, whether it could explain any symptoms you’ve had, and when you need follow-up. A carotid ultrasound can help assess blood flow and the degree of narrowing. For adults in the general population without stroke or TIA symptoms, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine carotid screening because the harms outweigh the benefits. Evaluating symptoms or monitoring a known narrowing is a different situation.

5. Understand when a procedure can help

Carotid endarterectomy is surgery that removes plaque from inside the artery. Carotid angioplasty and stenting widens the narrowed area and places a small mesh tube to hold it open. A specialist weighs how much the artery has narrowed, whether it recently caused a TIA or stroke, and the risks of the procedure. For some people, medication and follow-up are the best approach.

6. Put artery-friendly foods on your plate

No single food can clear an existing blockage in your neck. What you eat regularly can help lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, two factors you can work on to protect your arteries. The DASH eating plan, which emphasizes vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts and fish, is one way to do both. NHLBI, NIH

• Oats, beans and apples provide soluble fiber, which can help lower LDL. Try plain oatmeal with chopped apples and cinnamon, or add black beans or lentils to soup. Health
• Collard greens, cabbage and other vegetables fit into a blood-pressure-friendly eating pattern. Season greens with garlic, vinegar or smoked paprika to get more flavor with less salt. NHLBI, NIH
• Salmon, trout and tuna provide omega-3 fats. Try baked salmon with greens and brown rice in place of a meal centered on sausage or other processed meat. NHLBI, NIH
• Olive oil and unsalted nuts provide unsaturated fats. Use olive oil in place of butter when sautéing vegetables, or try a small handful of unsalted walnuts instead of chips.

Signs of a Stroke – When to Call 9-1-1

Call 911 immediately if you or someone else develops sudden face drooping, weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, vision changes, or loss of balance. Note when the symptoms started and take an ambulance. Call even if the symptoms go away. A TIA can last only minutes and still needs emergency evaluation