An important part of the physical examination for a cardiologist is listening to your neck. A stethoscope can detect vibration (bruit) in the neck’s arteries (carotids). The bruit is caused by blockages in these critical arteries supplying the brain and turbulence in blood flow.

Blockages in the carotid arteries are formed in a similar process as those in the coronary arteries. Those with abnormal cholesterol levels, diabetes, and high blood pressure are more likely to develop both a heart condition and carotid artery disease and a stroke. It’s not surprising that carotid artery bruits and heart attacks occur in the same people.

A study of over 17,000 people, published in Lancet, indicates that those with a carotid bruit are twice as likely to have a heart attack as those without.

If a bruit is heard, further testing, such as an ultrasound of the neck, is needed. Additionally, you may need to start taking aspirin. As with any medical decision, talk to your doctor before initiating, stopping, or changing treatment.