Brain artery narrowing is a slow traffic jam inside the pipes that carry blood to the brain. Over years, sticky plaque makes the opening smaller, so the brain gets less oxygen than it needs. The signs are quiet at first, then grow louder as the gap shrinks. The first clue is a short, temporary blackout called a mini-stroke. One side of the face droops for five minutes, an arm goes weak, or words come out scrambled—then everything snaps back. These brief spells are warning flares, not harmless hiccups. Repeat headaches follow. People call them “tight-band” pain that starts at the... Learn more