Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
Seek emergency help for sudden weakness, numbness, facial drooping, speech difficulty, confusion, vision loss, severe imbalance, or another possible stroke symptom.
After a neck procedure, rapidly increasing swelling or trouble breathing is also an emergency.
Tell the treating clinician promptly about new medication side effects, unusual bleeding, or changes in exercise tolerance.
Contact the team promptly for increasing neck swelling, wound drainage, fever, worsening pain, or a new lump near the procedure site.
Follow-up care is used to monitor symptoms, risk factors, medicines, and the artery itself.
Visits may include blood pressure checks, cholesterol or diabetes testing, medication review, and support with tobacco cessation, nutrition, or activity.
New but non-sudden concerns can usually be discussed through routine or expedited outpatient follow-up.
The article also says
Repeat carotid ultrasound may be appropriate for some people.
The timing depends on the degree of narrowing, whether it has changed, and whether surgery or stenting was performed.
Not everyone needs imaging at the same interval.
After carotid surgery or stenting, follow the procedure team’s instructions for wound care, activity, and medicines.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Carotid artery disease. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.