Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedDefinition
By Mayo Clinic staffStroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Most strokes occur without any warning signs or symptoms. One way to assess your risk of having a stroke is the carotid ultrasound exam, which allows your doctor to check the arteries in your neck for narrowing (stenosis) that could later cause a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).