Question 1

what does it mean if my physician tells me i have a right carotid bruit?

Accepted Answer

Turbulence in Artery: A carotid bruit is a "swishing" sound heard when listening to the neck with a stethoscope. The noise is turbulence caused by blood flowing past a blockage in the artery. These blockages are most often formed by plaque build-up / atherosclerosis. Interestingly this finding correlates with mild to moderate blockages not blockages near or greater than 90%. An ultrasound is the next best test.

Question 2

are there any types of heart murmurs which sound similar to carotid bruit?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Some murmurs can sound like bruits and the noise radiates up to the neck, especially those involving the aortic valve.  Any new murmur or bruit should be evaluated further by an ultrasound of the heart and also sometimes the carotids can be checked by Ultrasound too.  How serious the murmur is depends on the symptoms you are having, of course.  There are many murmurs that are loud but no problem.

Question 3

normal echo 18months ago. now have systolic murmur over aorta and carotid bruit. is it possible for damage to develop so quickly?could this be benign?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely : At your age it is unlikely the the carotid 'bruit' means anything is wrong.  The murmur is hard to evaluate without further testing.  

Non invasive eco testing could clear up most of your concerns and probably should be performed.

Question 4

can flying affect a carotid bruit?

Accepted Answer

No: A carotid bruit is noise from turbulent flow caused by a blockage in the carotid artery. Flying does not make the turbulence go away and will not affect a carotid bruit.

Question 5

can you explain what is a carotid bruit?

Accepted Answer

An abnormal sound: Audible with a stethoscope, caused by turbulent blood flow at the site of a surface irregularity on the lining of the artery.

Question 6

i have a carotid bruit. what should i expect for follow-ups with the doctor?

Accepted Answer

6-12 months: The typical follow up for a carotid stenosis is with an ultrasound every 6 or 12 months. This will depend on the degree of stenosis and the logistical issues of your local area.

Question 7

can a carotid bruit cause a persistent humming in my ear?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A bruit is basically the turbulence in an artery caused by a blockage. A good analogy would be when a nice wide silently flowing river narrows and gets very turbulent and loud like a rapid. If the humming you hear is pulsatile / cyclical then it could very well be coming from your carotid arteries. A simple carotid ultrasound can help evaluate the arteries to rule out any narrowing.

Question 8

what is the definition or description of: carotid bruit?

Accepted Answer

Sound: A carotid bruit indicates turbulent flow in the carotid artery.  If a carotid bruit is noted, then a carotid duplex ultrasound would be helpful to determine if there is in fact carotid artery disease.

Question 9

have a carotid bruit, what should i expect for the near future?

Accepted Answer

See your doctor: This may be early sign of carotid disease.  As the carotid narrow blood squeeze through a tight area faster resulting in a bruit that we hear.

Question 10

have a carotid bruit. will see cardio. on mon. what kind i expect and what kind of treatment is normal for this? thank you.

Accepted Answer

You probably: Need a carotid duplex ultrasound to quantify the degree of obstruction in the carotid artery.  Depending on the results and your history, no treatment, medications, or non-invasive procedure, or surgery, are the usual alternatives.

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A member asked:

What does it mean if my physician tells me i have a right carotid bruit?

A member asked:

Are there any types of heart murmurs which sound similar to carotid bruit?

A member asked:

Normal echo 18months ago. now have systolic murmur over aorta and carotid bruit. is it possible for damage to develop so quickly?could this be benign?

A member asked:

Can flying affect a carotid bruit?

A member asked:

Can you explain what is a carotid bruit?

A member asked:

I have a carotid bruit. what should i expect for follow-ups with the doctor?

A member asked:

Can a carotid bruit cause a persistent humming in my ear?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: carotid bruit?

A member asked:

Have a carotid bruit, what should i expect for the near future?

A member asked:

Have a carotid bruit. will see cardio. on mon. what kind i expect and what kind of treatment is normal for this? thank you.

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