If you fall into a high-risk group for this disease, your doctor will want to test you for early signs of damage. During a physical exam, your doctor will listen to the arteries in your neck with a stethoscope for a swishing sound called a bruit. This is a sign that there’s a potential narrowing in your carotid vessels.

Your doctor may also test your strength, memory, and speech. There are also additional tests that can be used to detect carotid artery disease:

Carotid Ultrasound
This noninvasive test uses sound waves to measure the flow and pressure of blood in your vessels.

CT Angiography
This is a way to take X-ray images of your vessels. A dye called contrast is placed in your vessels. The CT scanner then takes pictures from several angles.

Head CT Scan
A head CT scan takes pictures of your brain tissue to check for any bleeding or abnormalities.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
An MRA also uses contrast to highlight arteries in your neck and brain. Then, 3-D images are taken using a high-powered magnet.

MRI Scan
A head MRI takes detailed images of brain tissue without using contrast.

Cerebral Angiography
For cerebral angiography, your doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into your carotid artery. Dye will be injected, and then an X-ray will be taken to view any abnormalities. This test is more invasive than the other forms of imaging, making it riskier.