{"id":126040,"date":"2026-08-23T20:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T03:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/vascular-services\/carotid-artery-disease\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T15:21:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:21:14","slug":"carotid-artery-disease","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/vascular-services\/carotid-artery-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Carotid Artery Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"MedicalCondition\",\"name\":\"Carotid Artery Disease\",\"alternateName\":[\"Carotid Artery Stenosis\",\"Carotid Stenosis\",\"Carotid Occlusive Disease\"],\"associatedAnatomy\":{\"@type\":\"AnatomicalStructure\",\"name\":\"Carotid arteries of the neck\"},\"cause\":{\"@type\":\"MedicalCause\",\"name\":\"Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries)\"},\"riskFactor\":[\"Age over 65\",\"High blood pressure\",\"High cholesterol\",\"Diabetes\",\"Smoking\",\"Coronary artery disease\",\"Obesity\",\"Lack of exercise\"],\"signOrSymptom\":[\"Often none until a TIA or stroke\",\"One-sided numbness or weakness\",\"Facial drooping\",\"Loss of vision in one eye\",\"Slurred speech\"],\"possibleTreatment\":[\"Medical management\",\"Carotid endarterectomy\",\"Carotid artery stenting\",\"Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)\"],\"provider\":{\"@type\":\"MedicalOrganization\",\"name\":\"Empire Vein & Vascular Specialists\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/empirevein.com\\\/\"}}<\/script>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:var(--gradient-hero);position:relative;overflow:hidden\">\n\t<div class=\"vv-hero-grid\" style=\"max-width:1480px;margin:0 auto;padding:0;display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(320px, 0.82fr);align-items:stretch;gap:clamp(24px, 4vw, 64px)\">\n\t\t<div style=\"padding:clamp(40px, 6vw, 72px) 0 clamp(56px, 7vw, 92px) var(--gutter);position:relative;z-index:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<nav style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;font-size:var(--text-sm);margin-bottom:26px;flex-wrap:wrap\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/vascular-services\/\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);font-weight:600;padding:6px 0;min-height:40px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;text-decoration:none\">Vascular Care<\/a>\n\t\t<span style=\"color:var(--border-strong)\">|<\/span>\n\t\t<span style=\"color:var(--text-heading);font-weight:600\">Carotid Artery Disease<\/span>\n\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"ev-h1 ev-arrive-kw\" style=\"line-height:1.02\"><span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">Carotid artery disease<\/span>, advanced care to protect your brain<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-lead\" style=\"margin:22px 0 0;max-width:640px\">A narrowed carotid artery can quietly raise your stroke risk for years before it causes any symptom. Found early, it\u2019s very treatable, and Empire Vein is a national leader in the most advanced treatment, TCAR. Here\u2019s what to know, from first signs to the full range of options.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-statrow ev-arrive-rise ev-arrive-d2\" style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:26px 0;margin-top:40px;max-width:600px;border-top:1px solid var(--border);padding-top:30px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"flex:1 1 44%;min-width:180px;padding-left:0;border-left:none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:clamp(1.5rem, 2.4vw, 1.9rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.03em;line-height:1;margin:0\"><span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">Up to 5%<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-meta\" style=\"margin:9px 0 0\">of adults are affected by carotid artery disease<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"flex:1 1 44%;min-width:180px;padding-left:clamp(18px, 2.2vw, 32px);border-left:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:clamp(1.5rem, 2.4vw, 1.9rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.03em;line-height:1;margin:0\"><span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">500+<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-meta\" style=\"margin:9px 0 0\">procedures for carotid stenosis performed by our team<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"vv-hero-media\" style=\"position:relative;min-height:420px;align-self:stretch\">\n\t\t\t<div style=\"position:absolute;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-white) 80%);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;inset:0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ev-arrive-ease\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/carotid-step-3.png\" alt=\"Illustration of the brain with reduced blood flow from a narrowed carotid artery\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" style=\"position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;display:block;object-position:center center;pointer-events:none;padding:clamp(20px, 2.5vw, 40px)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"ev-section\">\n\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(300px, 0.92fr);gap:clamp(32px, 5vw, 72px);align-items:center\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0;text-align:left;margin-bottom:clamp(36px, 4vw, 52px)\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\">What is <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">carotid artery disease?<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.75;margin:0 0 18px;text-wrap:pretty\">Your carotid arteries are the two main arteries that carry blood from your heart, up through your neck, and into your brain. Healthy carotid arteries are smooth and open, delivering the oxygen, glucose, and nutrients your brain needs to work well.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.75;margin:0;text-wrap:pretty\">As you age, a buildup of fat and cholesterol called plaque can stiffen the artery walls. This <strong style=\"color:var(--text-heading)\">\u201chardening of the arteries,\u201d or atherosclerosis<\/strong>, narrows the artery and restricts blood flow. The narrowing is called carotid artery stenosis, and it raises the risk of stroke.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-group\" style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start;padding:0 0 20px;border-top:none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:46px;height:46px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:var(--ev-purple-50);color:var(--ev-purple-600);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M2 6c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 7 7 5 9.5 5c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><path d=\"M2 12c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 13 7 11 9.5 11c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><path d=\"M2 18c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 19 7 17 9.5 17c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:4px\">Your brain&#039;s blood supply<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-meta\">The two carotid arteries carry oxygen, glucose, and nutrients up through your neck to the brain.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start;padding:20px 0;border-top:1px solid #ece3f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:46px;height:46px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:var(--ev-purple-50);color:var(--ev-purple-600);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12 2.69l5.66 5.66a8 8 0 1 1-11.31 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:4px\">Plaque narrows them<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-meta\">With age, fat and cholesterol collect along the artery wall, stiffening and narrowing it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start;padding:20px 0;border-top:1px solid #ece3f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:46px;height:46px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:var(--ev-purple-50);color:var(--ev-purple-600);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:4px\">Often silent<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-meta\">Carotid stenosis can progress with no symptoms at all, which is why screening matters.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg, var(--ev-purple-50) 0%, #f8eef4 42%, #fdeede 100%);position:relative;overflow:hidden\">\n\t<div style=\"max-width:var(--container-max);margin-inline:auto;padding:clamp(64px, 8.5vw, 116px) var(--gutter);position:relative;z-index:1\">\n\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 0.56fr) minmax(0, 1.44fr);gap:clamp(28px, 4vw, 52px);max-width:1060px;margin-inline:auto;align-items:stretch\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-greet\" style=\"position:relative;border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(165deg, var(--ev-purple-100) 0%, #fbe2c9 100%);display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:flex-end;min-height:440px;box-shadow:var(--shadow-md)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/dr-son-ha-yu.png\" alt=\"Dr. Son Ha Yu\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;object-position:bottom center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"position:relative;z-index:1;padding:26px 24px 20px;background:linear-gradient(to top, rgba(44,15,68,0.94), rgba(44,15,68,0.5) 55%, rgba(44,15,68,0))\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;color:var(--ev-white)\">Dr. Son Ha Yu<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);color:rgba(255,255,255,0.82);font-weight:600;margin-top:3px\">Board-Certified \u2022 Fellowship-Trained Vascular Surgeon<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"margin:0 0 18px;font-size:clamp(1.4rem, 2.4vw, 1.9rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.02em;line-height:1.12;color:var(--text-heading)\">What our doctors think of <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">carotid disease<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<blockquote style=\"margin:0;font-size:clamp(1.3rem, 2vw, 1.7rem);font-weight:600;letter-spacing:-0.015em;line-height:1.42;color:var(--text-heading);text-wrap:pretty\"><span style=\"color:var(--ev-orange-dark);font-weight:800\">\u201c<\/span>Most carotid narrowing never needs an operation. What it needs is to be found, watched, and treated at the right moment. That judgment, knowing when not to operate, is as important as anything we do in the procedure room.<span style=\"color:var(--ev-orange-dark);font-weight:800\">\u201d<\/span><\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"ev-section\">\n\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;margin-bottom:clamp(36px, 4vw, 52px)\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\">How it <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">develops<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;margin:16px auto 0;max-width:640px;text-wrap:pretty\">Nearly always, it comes down to plaque slowly narrowing the arteries that carry blood to your brain.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-group ev-divider-grid ev-swipe-row ev-rail--numbered-steps\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Steps, in order\" tabindex=\"0\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr))\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-left:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 40px)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/artery-step-1.png\" alt=\"Plaque builds up\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:clamp(280px, 30vw, 440px);width:auto;max-width:100%;object-fit:contain;align-self:center;display:block;margin-bottom:22px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"align-self:stretch;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;color:var(--ev-purple-400);letter-spacing:0.1em;padding-bottom:14px;border-bottom:2px solid var(--ev-purple-200);margin-bottom:14px\">01<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:8px\">Plaque builds up<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty\">Over the years, fat and cholesterol collect along the inner walls of the carotid arteries and slowly harden into plaque.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-left:1px solid var(--border);padding-left:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 40px);padding-right:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 40px)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/artery-step-2.png\" alt=\"The artery narrows\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:clamp(280px, 30vw, 440px);width:auto;max-width:100%;object-fit:contain;align-self:center;display:block;margin-bottom:22px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"align-self:stretch;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;color:var(--ev-purple-400);letter-spacing:0.1em;padding-bottom:14px;border-bottom:2px solid var(--ev-purple-200);margin-bottom:14px\">02<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:8px\">The artery narrows<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty\">As plaque thickens, the carotid artery stiffens and its channel narrows.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-left:1px solid var(--border);padding-left:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 40px);padding-right:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 40px)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/carotid-step-3.png\" alt=\"Blood flow drops\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:clamp(280px, 30vw, 440px);width:auto;max-width:100%;object-fit:contain;align-self:center;display:block;margin-bottom:22px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"align-self:stretch;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;color:var(--ev-purple-400);letter-spacing:0.1em;padding-bottom:14px;border-bottom:2px solid var(--ev-purple-200);margin-bottom:14px\">03<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin-bottom:8px\">Blood flow drops<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty\">The narrowing restricts oxygen-rich blood reaching the brain and raises the risk of a mini-stroke or stroke.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:transparent\">\n\t<div class=\"ev-section\">\n\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 0.7fr) minmax(0, 1.3fr);gap:clamp(32px, 5vw, 72px);align-items:start\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2-sm\">Who&#039;s most at risk<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;margin:20px 0 0;text-wrap:pretty\">Carotid artery disease shares its risk factors with heart disease and stroke. The more that stack up, the higher your risk, and the more reason to get screened.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.65;margin:16px 0 0;text-wrap:pretty\">The same habits that protect your heart and brain protect your carotid arteries too: staying active and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-grid-cards ev-grid-cards-2 ev-rv-group\" style=\"row-gap:28px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>Age over 65<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">Risk rises steadily with age as arteries naturally stiffen and plaque accumulates.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>High blood pressure<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">Hypertension damages and weakens the artery walls over time.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>High cholesterol<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">Excess cholesterol fuels the plaque that narrows the carotid arteries.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>Diabetes<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">High blood sugar accelerates atherosclerosis throughout the body.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>Heart disease<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">Coronary artery disease often goes hand in hand with carotid disease.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:14px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin-bottom:3px;display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:7px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-danger);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:3px\"><path d=\"M18 6L6 18\"\/><path d=\"M6 6l12 12\"\/><\/svg>Smoking, weight &amp; inactivity<\/h3><p class=\"ev-meta\">Smoking, obesity, and a lack of exercise all speed up plaque buildup.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:transparent\">\n\t<div class=\"ev-section\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;margin-bottom:clamp(36px, 4vw, 52px)\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\">Signs &amp; <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;margin:16px auto 0;max-width:640px;text-wrap:pretty\">When carotid disease does cause signs, they usually arrive as a TIA (a \u201cmini-stroke\u201d) or a stroke, which is why finding it early matters so much.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div style=\"max-width:880px;margin-inline:auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;margin:0 0 26px;text-align:center;text-wrap:pretty\">A TIA usually resolves within 24 hours, but it\u2019s an important warning of higher stroke risk. The signs to watch for are the signs of a stroke:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid ev-rv-group\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));gap:12px clamp(28px, 4vw, 56px);max-width:800px;margin-inline:auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Numbness on one side of the body<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Weakness, paralysis, or loss of coordination on one side<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Drooping on one side of the face or mouth<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Loss of vision, or a \u201cshade drawn\u201d over one eye<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Loss of speech or garbled speech<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Trouble writing or understanding writing<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:11px;align-items:flex-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--ev-purple-500);margin-top:3px\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 6L9 17l-5-5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:15.5px;color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.5\">Sudden episodes of memory loss<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" role=\"note\" style=\"max-width:720px;margin:clamp(28px, 3vw, 40px) auto 0;text-align:center;padding:clamp(28px, 3.2vw, 40px) clamp(24px, 3vw, 44px);background:linear-gradient(165deg, #fdf3f1 0%, #fbe9ec 100%);border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);position:relative\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"display:inline-flex;width:52px;height:52px;border-radius:var(--radius-full);align-items:center;justify-content:center;background:linear-gradient(150deg, #d64541, #b5322f);color:var(--ev-white);margin-bottom:16px;box-shadow:0 10px 22px -8px rgba(181,50,47,0.55)\"><svg width=\"25\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polygon points=\"13 2 3 14 12 14 11 22 21 10 12 10 13 2\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;color:#b5322f;margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.25\">Call 911 right away<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ev-body\" style=\"margin:0 auto;max-width:560px\">If you or someone near you has any of these signs, get to the nearest emergency room right away.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:transparent\">\n\t<div class=\"ev-section\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;margin-bottom:clamp(36px, 4vw, 52px)\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\">How we <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">diagnose it<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;margin:16px auto 0;max-width:640px;text-wrap:pretty\">It starts with the most important test: a quick, painless carotid ultrasound, available at every office.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 1fr);gap:clamp(32px, 5vw, 72px);align-items:start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-group\" style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-monostep-big\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:clamp(60px, 6.5vw, 100px) minmax(0, 1fr);gap:clamp(16px, 2.4vw, 30px);align-items:center;padding:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 30px) 0;border-top:1px solid rgba(91,33,182,0.14);border-bottom:none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(3rem, 5.5vw, 5rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.04em;line-height:0.9;color:var(--ev-purple-200)\">01<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin:0 0 6px\">Exam &amp; history<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty;margin:0\">A specialist reviews your history and risk factors, then listens over the artery with a stethoscope for a bruit, the whistling sound of blood passing a narrowing.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-monostep-big\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:clamp(60px, 6.5vw, 100px) minmax(0, 1fr);gap:clamp(16px, 2.4vw, 30px);align-items:center;padding:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 30px) 0;border-top:1px solid rgba(91,33,182,0.14);border-bottom:none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(3rem, 5.5vw, 5rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.04em;line-height:0.9;color:var(--ev-purple-200)\">02<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin:0 0 6px\">Carotid Doppler ultrasound<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty;margin:0\">An ultrasound in our accredited vascular lab measures how narrowed the artery is and how well blood is reaching the brain.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-monostep-big\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:clamp(60px, 6.5vw, 100px) minmax(0, 1fr);gap:clamp(16px, 2.4vw, 30px);align-items:center;padding:clamp(20px, 2.4vw, 30px) 0;border-top:1px solid rgba(91,33,182,0.14);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(91,33,182,0.14)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(3rem, 5.5vw, 5rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.04em;line-height:0.9;color:var(--ev-purple-200)\">03<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.015em;margin:0 0 6px\">MRA or arteriogram<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;text-wrap:pretty;margin:0\">When more detail is needed, advanced imaging maps the artery precisely so your surgeon can plan the safest treatment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-greet\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-white) 78%);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:100%;min-height:340px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/pad-diagnose.jpg\" alt=\"An ultrasound machine in use in our accredited vascular lab\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;display:block\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"carotid-treatments\" class=\"ev-section\">\n\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;margin-bottom:clamp(36px, 4vw, 52px)\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\">How we <span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">treat it<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;margin:16px auto 0;max-width:640px;text-wrap:pretty\">Care ranges from managing risk factors to advanced, minimally invasive procedures, matched to how narrowed your arteries are and your overall health.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv-group ev-swipe-row ev-rail--treatment-cards\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Treatment options\" tabindex=\"0\" style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:22px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"cursor:default;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1 1 260px;max-width:470px;padding:28px 28px 24px;background:var(--card);border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm);transition:box-shadow var(--duration), transform var(--duration)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:16px\"><span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-amber-50));color:var(--ev-purple-700);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 12h-4l-3 9L9 3l-3 9H2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;color:var(--ev-purple-600);background:var(--ev-purple-50);border-radius:var(--radius-full);padding:5px 11px;white-space:nowrap\">First-line care<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin-bottom:8px;line-height:1.2\">Medical management<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.58;margin-bottom:16px;text-wrap:pretty;flex:1 1 auto\">Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, quitting smoking, and taking clot-preventing (antiplatelet) medicine can slow the disease and lower stroke risk.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid var(--border);margin-bottom:0\"><div style=\"display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start\"><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:var(--text-subtle);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:1px\">Best for<\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:600;color:var(--text-heading);line-height:1.4\">Mild to moderate narrowing<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"cursor:default;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1 1 260px;max-width:470px;padding:28px 28px 24px;background:var(--card);border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm);transition:box-shadow var(--duration), transform var(--duration)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:16px\"><span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-amber-50));color:var(--ev-purple-700);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 12h-4l-3 9L9 3l-3 9H2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;color:var(--ev-purple-600);background:var(--ev-purple-50);border-radius:var(--radius-full);padding:5px 11px;white-space:nowrap\">Surgical<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin-bottom:8px;line-height:1.2\">Carotid endarterectomy<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.58;margin-bottom:16px;text-wrap:pretty;flex:1 1 auto\">A vascular surgeon removes the plaque from inside the artery through an incision in the neck. This is the traditional open procedure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid var(--border);margin-bottom:0\"><div style=\"display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start\"><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:var(--text-subtle);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:1px\">Best for<\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:600;color:var(--text-heading);line-height:1.4\">Significant narrowing<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"cursor:default;display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1 1 260px;max-width:470px;padding:28px 28px 24px;background:var(--card);border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm);transition:box-shadow var(--duration), transform var(--duration)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:16px\"><span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-amber-50));color:var(--ev-purple-700);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M2 6c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 7 7 5 9.5 5c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><path d=\"M2 12c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 13 7 11 9.5 11c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><path d=\"M2 18c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1C7 19 7 17 9.5 17c2.6 0 2.4 2 5 2 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;color:var(--ev-purple-600);background:var(--ev-purple-50);border-radius:var(--radius-full);padding:5px 11px;white-space:nowrap\">Endovascular<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin-bottom:8px;line-height:1.2\">Carotid artery stenting<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.58;margin-bottom:16px;text-wrap:pretty;flex:1 1 auto\">A stent is placed through a catheter to hold the narrowed artery open, without open surgery.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"padding-top:14px;border-top:1px solid var(--border);margin-bottom:0\"><div style=\"display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start\"><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:var(--text-subtle);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:1px\">Best for<\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:600;color:var(--text-heading);line-height:1.4\">Select patients<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/vascular-services\/tcar\/\" class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"cursor:pointer;margin-top:22px;padding:3.5px;max-width:1454px;margin-inline:auto;border-radius:calc(var(--radius-2xl) + 3px);background:var(--gradient-brand);box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm);transition:box-shadow var(--duration), transform var(--duration);display:block;color:inherit;text-decoration:none\">\n\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:22px 32px;padding:clamp(24px, 2.6vw, 32px) clamp(24px, 2.8vw, 36px);background:linear-gradient(165deg, #faf5ff 0%, #fdf5ef 100%);border-radius:var(--radius-2xl);height:100%\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"flex-shrink:0;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:linear-gradient(150deg, var(--ev-purple-100), var(--ev-amber-50));color:var(--ev-purple-700);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12 22s8-4 8-10V5l-8-3-8 3v7c0 6 8 10 8 10z\"\/><path d=\"M9 12l2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\t\t\t\t<div style=\"flex:1 1 340px;min-width:0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:8px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size:var(--text-xl);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.02em;line-height:1.2;margin:0\">TCAR<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;color:#fff;background:var(--ev-purple-600);border-radius:var(--radius-full);padding:5px 11px;white-space:nowrap\">Gold standard<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.58;margin:0;text-wrap:pretty;max-width:640px\">Transcarotid artery revascularization briefly reverses blood flow to protect the brain while a stent is placed. It&#039;s minimally invasive, with no general anesthesia.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"flex:0 1 240px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start\"><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;color:var(--text-subtle);flex-shrink:0;margin-top:1px\">Best for<\/span><span style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:600;color:var(--text-heading);line-height:1.4\">High-risk patients<\/span><\/div><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:700;color:var(--primary)\">Learn about TCAR <svg width=\"15\" height=\"15\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M5 12h14\"\/><path d=\"M12 5l7 7-7 7\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"position:relative;margin:0;max-width:820px;margin-inline:auto;text-align:center;margin-top:clamp(30px, 3.5vw, 44px)\">\n\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"display:block;height:4px;width:clamp(72px, 12vw, 120px);border-radius:var(--radius-full);margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:clamp(20px, 2.6vw, 30px);background:var(--gradient-brand)\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<p style=\"margin:0;font-size:clamp(1.3rem, 2vw, 1.7rem);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.02em;line-height:1.32;text-wrap:balance;color:var(--text-heading)\"><span class=\"ev-gradient-text\">Not everyone needs a procedure<\/span>: usually only patients with significant narrowing (about 75% or more) or recent symptoms. Your vascular surgeon will recommend the right plan for you.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I be checked for carotid stenosis?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"If you're concerned about carotid stenosis or your risk of stroke, start by discussing it with your physician, who will take a detailed history and exam. And if you have risk factors, they can order a noninvasive carotid ultrasound to check for plaque buildup in the artery.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"I've been told I have plaque in my carotid artery. Is this an emergency? Do I need surgery?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, surgery isn't required for everyone with carotid stenosis, and even when it is, it's rarely an emergency. You'll likely be referred to a vascular surgeon. Typically only patients with significant plaque (usually 75% or greater) or recent symptoms of a TIA or stroke are recommended for a procedure.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"I need carotid treatment. What kind of doctor should I see?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A board-certified vascular surgeon is uniquely qualified to treat carotid artery stenosis. They have the experience and access to every treatment option, including carotid endarterectomy (surgery) and minimally invasive options such as carotid stenting and TCAR. From there, they'll recommend the best approach for you.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What's so special about TCAR?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"TCAR is our most advanced option for higher-risk patients: it protects the brain during treatment, avoids general anesthesia, and is done through a small incision at the base of the neck. Our TCAR page walks through how it works, who it's for, and what recovery looks like.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why choose Empire Vein & Vascular Specialists?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Carotid care is a core specialty here, not an occasional procedure. Our fellowship-trained vascular surgeons offer every option, from medical management to endarterectomy, stenting, and TCAR. They recommend a procedure only when the narrowing truly calls for one, and follow you with regular ultrasounds afterward. That mix of experience and conservative judgment is why physicians across Southern California refer their carotid patients to us.\"}}]}<\/script>\n<section style=\"background:transparent\">\n\t<div class=\"ev-section\" style=\"max-width:900px\">\n\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h2\" style=\"margin:0 0 10px;text-align:center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarotid artery disease, answered\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.6;margin:0 auto 36px;text-align:center;max-width:560px\">The questions patients ask us most about carotid disease and TCAR.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"ev-faq-list\" data-ev-accordion-group>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" data-ev-island=\"accordion\" aria-expanded=\"true\" style=\"width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;padding:22px 0;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;text-align:left;font-family:var(--font-sans)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);font-weight:700;color:var(--text-heading);letter-spacing:-0.01em\">Should I be checked for carotid stenosis?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-ev-accordion-chevron style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--primary);transform:rotate(180deg);transition:transform var(--duration)\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6 9l6 6 6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;padding:0 0 24px;margin:0;max-width:760px;text-wrap:pretty\">If you&#039;re concerned about carotid stenosis or your risk of stroke, start by discussing it with your physician, who will take a detailed history and exam. And if you have risk factors, they can order a noninvasive carotid ultrasound to check for plaque buildup in the artery.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" data-ev-island=\"accordion\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;padding:22px 0;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;text-align:left;font-family:var(--font-sans)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);font-weight:700;color:var(--text-heading);letter-spacing:-0.01em\">I&#039;ve been told I have plaque in my carotid artery. Is this an emergency? Do I need surgery?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-ev-accordion-chevron style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--primary);transform:none;transition:transform var(--duration)\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6 9l6 6 6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<p hidden style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;padding:0 0 24px;margin:0;max-width:760px;text-wrap:pretty\">No, surgery isn&#039;t required for everyone with carotid stenosis, and even when it is, it&#039;s rarely an emergency. You&#039;ll likely be referred to a vascular surgeon. Typically only patients with significant plaque (usually 75% or greater) or recent symptoms of a TIA or stroke are recommended for a procedure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" data-ev-island=\"accordion\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;padding:22px 0;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;text-align:left;font-family:var(--font-sans)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);font-weight:700;color:var(--text-heading);letter-spacing:-0.01em\">I need carotid treatment. What kind of doctor should I see?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-ev-accordion-chevron style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--primary);transform:none;transition:transform var(--duration)\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6 9l6 6 6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<p hidden style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;padding:0 0 24px;margin:0;max-width:760px;text-wrap:pretty\">A board-certified vascular surgeon is uniquely qualified to treat carotid artery stenosis. They have the experience and access to every treatment option, including carotid endarterectomy (surgery) and minimally invasive options such as carotid stenting and TCAR. From there, they&#039;ll recommend the best approach for you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" data-ev-island=\"accordion\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;padding:22px 0;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;text-align:left;font-family:var(--font-sans)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);font-weight:700;color:var(--text-heading);letter-spacing:-0.01em\">What&#039;s so special about TCAR?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-ev-accordion-chevron style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--primary);transform:none;transition:transform var(--duration)\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6 9l6 6 6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<p hidden style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;padding:0 0 24px;margin:0;max-width:760px;text-wrap:pretty\">TCAR is our most advanced option for higher-risk patients: it protects the brain during treatment, avoids general anesthesia, and is done through a small incision at the base of the neck. Our TCAR page walks through how it works, who it&#039;s for, and what recovery looks like.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" data-ev-island=\"accordion\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;padding:22px 0;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;text-align:left;font-family:var(--font-sans)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 18px);font-weight:700;color:var(--text-heading);letter-spacing:-0.01em\">Why choose Empire Vein &amp; Vascular Specialists?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-ev-accordion-chevron style=\"flex-shrink:0;color:var(--primary);transform:none;transition:transform var(--duration)\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6 9l6 6 6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<p hidden style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--text-body);line-height:1.7;padding:0 0 24px;margin:0;max-width:760px;text-wrap:pretty\">Carotid care is a core specialty here, not an occasional procedure. Our fellowship-trained vascular surgeons offer every option, from medical management to endarterectomy, stenting, and TCAR. They recommend a procedure only when the narrowing truly calls for one, and follow you with regular ultrasounds afterward. That mix of experience and conservative judgment is why physicians across Southern California refer their carotid patients to us.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section style=\"background:transparent\">\n\t<div style=\"max-width:860px;margin:0 auto;padding:clamp(56px, 7vw, 96px) var(--gutter)\">\n\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-grid ev-rv-group\" style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1px 1fr;gap:clamp(28px, 3.5vw, 48px);align-items:stretch\">\n\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-gradient-text\" style=\"display:inline-block;font-size:clamp(2.4rem, 5vw, 4rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.035em;line-height:1;margin:0 0 22px\">Insurance<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.62;margin:0 0 24px;text-wrap:pretty;max-width:460px\">When your veins cause symptoms like aching, swelling, or skin changes, treatment is typically considered medically necessary, including under Medicare. We&#039;ll help you verify your benefits.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.08em;color:var(--ev-purple-600);margin:0 0 22px\">Most major plans accepted<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px;align-items:center;margin-bottom:30px;max-width:460px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/iehp.png\" width=\"312\" height=\"161\" alt=\"Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/aetna.png\" width=\"509\" height=\"99\" alt=\"Aetna\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/bluecross.png\" width=\"299\" height=\"87\" alt=\"Anthem Blue Cross\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/medicare-750x216.png\" width=\"750\" height=\"216\" alt=\"Medicare\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/blueshield.png\" width=\"299\" height=\"81\" alt=\"Blue Shield\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span><span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:56px;padding:0 18px;background:#fff;border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-xs)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cigna.png\" width=\"348\" height=\"145\" alt=\"Cigna\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"height:30px;max-width:120px;width:auto;object-fit:contain\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/patient-center\/insurances-we-accept\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:700;color:var(--primary);cursor:pointer;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\">Verify your coverage <svg width=\"15\" height=\"15\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M5 12h14\"\/><path d=\"M12 5l7 7-7 7\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vv-info-divider\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"width:1px;background:var(--border);justify-self:center\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-gradient-text\" style=\"display:inline-block;font-size:clamp(2.4rem, 5vw, 4rem);font-weight:800;letter-spacing:-0.035em;line-height:1;margin:0 0 22px\">Locations<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);color:var(--muted-foreground);line-height:1.62;margin:0 0 26px;text-wrap:pretty;max-width:460px\">Care close to home across the Inland Empire, High Desert, and Coachella Valley. Every office has on-site ultrasound.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:20px;margin-bottom:30px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.09em;color:var(--text-subtle);margin:0 0 10px\">Inland Empire<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px 20px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/ontario\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>Ontario<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/riverside\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>Riverside<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.09em;color:var(--text-subtle);margin:0 0 10px\">High Desert<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px 20px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/victorville\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>Victorville<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.09em;color:var(--text-subtle);margin:0 0 10px\">Coachella Valley<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px 20px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/la-quinta\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>La Quinta<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/palm-springs\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>Palm Springs<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/rancho-mirage\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-base);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:var(--text-heading);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\"><svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"color:var(--ev-purple-600);flex-shrink:0\"><path d=\"M21 10c0 7-9 13-9 13s-9-6-9-13a9 9 0 0 1 18 0z\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"10\" r=\"3\"\/><\/svg>Rancho Mirage<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/locations\/\" style=\"font-size:var(--text-sm);font-weight:700;color:var(--primary);cursor:pointer;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px\">Find your nearest office <svg width=\"15\" height=\"15\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M5 12h14\"\/><path d=\"M12 5l7 7-7 7\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t<section style=\"background:#311e50;background-image:url('https:\/\/empirevein.com\/wp-content\/themes\/evvs2026\/assets\/img\/closingcta-bg.jpg');background-size:100% auto;background-position:bottom center;background-repeat:no-repeat;position:relative\">\n\t\t<div class=\"ev-rv\" style=\"max-width:820px;margin:0 auto;padding:clamp(80px, 10vw, 148px) var(--gutter) clamp(140px, 20vw, 300px);text-align:center;position:relative;z-index:1\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ev-h1-sm\" style=\"line-height:1.03;margin-bottom:18px;max-width:720px;margin-inline:auto;color:var(--ev-white);text-shadow:0 2px 20px rgba(31,16,55,0.35)\">Expert carotid care, close to home.<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size:var(--text-lg);color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);max-width:560px;margin:0 auto 36px;line-height:1.5;text-wrap:pretty;text-shadow:0 1px 14px rgba(31,16,55,0.3)\">Talk with our fellowship-trained vascular surgeons about your carotid arteries and the right treatment for you. Screening offered at all 6 of our Southern California offices.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;gap:22px\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/empirevein.com\/en\/book-online\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;height:48px;padding:0 30px;border-radius:var(--radius-full);border:1px solid transparent;background:var(--accent);color:var(--accent-foreground);font-family:var(--font-sans);font-size:15px;font-weight:600;line-height:1;white-space:nowrap;text-decoration:none;box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm)\">Book a Screening<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-size:var(--text-xs);font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.72)\">or call us directly<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ev-h3\" href=\"tel:18008274267\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;letter-spacing:-0.02em;color:var(--ev-white);text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 1px 14px rgba(31,16,55,0.4)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 16.92v3a2 2 0 0 1-2.18 2 19.79 19.79 0 0 1-8.63-3.07 19.5 19.5 0 0 1-6-6 19.79 19.79 0 0 1-3.07-8.67A2 2 0 0 1 4.11 2h3a2 2 0 0 1 2 1.72 12.84 12.84 0 0 0 .7 2.81 2 2 0 0 1-.45 2.11L8.09 9.91a16 16 0 0 0 6 6l1.27-1.27a2 2 0 0 1 2.11-.45 12.84 12.84 0 0 0 2.81.7A2 2 0 0 1 22 16.92z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(800) 827-4267\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":126027,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-126040","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Carotid Artery Disease &amp; Stroke Prevention | Empire Vein &amp; Vascular Specialists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Carotid artery narrowing raises stroke risk, often with no symptoms. 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