Neck Problems and Stroke Risk: Understanding the Connection

Atherosclerosis of the vertebral arteries has been associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease but is generally an uncommon etiology of posterior circulation stroke, causing less than 2% of strokes. Stroke may be caused by direct compression of the subclavian or vertebral arteries at either their bony foramina or where they are crossed by muscular and fascial bridges during neck maneuvers