What is a carotid bruit?

A carotid bruit is identified as an abnormal sound that occurs due to turbulent blood flow through the carotid artery. This turbulence may be caused by an accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques or other obstructions in the artery, which can impede smooth blood flow and create audible vibrations during auscultation. The presence of a carotid bruit often serves as a clinical indicator that there may be significant underlying vascular disease, such as carotid artery stenosis, which can increase the risk for cerebrovascular events like strokes.

Understanding this condition is essential for healthcare professionals as it can help guide further diagnostic workup and management of cardiovascular health. The normal heartbeat sound reflects typical cardiovascular function and does not indicate any pathologies, while sounds caused by heart failure and indications of high blood pressure pertain to different clinical conditions entirely.