In many patients with carotid stenosis, noticeable symptoms do not appear until the artery is severely narrowed or an acute blockage occurs due to a blood clot. While plaque formation in the carotid arteries can begin in early adulthood, it often takes decades for symptoms to manifest. These symptoms may present directly as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a stroke. A TIA occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted. It resembles a stroke but usually lasts only a few minutes, with symptoms typically resolving within an hour as the individual returns to their normal state.