ACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are a class of vasodilators, drugs that open ("dilate") the arteries, lowering blood pressure and therefore helping prevent stroke .

Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a localized, blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel caused by a disease or weakening of the vessel's wall.

Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots that can block blood flow to the brain. See "Antiplatelets."

Antiplatelets 
Antiplatelets are drugs that stop blood platelets (substances in blood that promote clotting) from clumping together to form clots.  See "Anticoagulants."

Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque (deposits of fat or cholesterol) in a blood vessel that eventually blocks the flow of blood through that vessel.

Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are medicines that reduce the heart's tendency to beat faster, and therefore help reduce blood pressure.

Bruit
A bruit is an abnormally loud, harsh noise coming from a blood vessel heard through a stethoscope during a physical examination. It may be a symptom of an underlying problem, such as a blockage in the blood vessel. 

Carotid angioplasty-stent (CAS)
Carotid angioplasty-stent, also known as carotid artery stenting, is a technique for opening a blocked carotid artery to allow blood to flow freely through it.  Similar to a procedure used to treat coronary artery disease, it involves putting a wire mesh

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA)
Carotid endarterectomy is the surgical removal of a blockage (such as plaque or a blood clot) from a carotid artery.

Carotid revascularization
Carotid revascularization is the process of removing a blockage from a carotid artery.  Currently, the two most popular techniques of carotid revascularization are surgery (carotid endarterectomy or CEA) and stent placement (carotid angioplasty-stent or CAS).

Plaque
Plaque is a deposit of fat or cholesterol that builds up inside a blood vessel which, left untreated, can eventually block the flow of blood through that vessel.

Statins
Statins are a class of drugs that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
Statins are a class of LDL-cholesterol lowering drugs that has been found to be highly effective

Stent
A stent is an object – usually a tiny tube made of a metallic mesh – put inside a blood vessel to keep it open and unblocked. 

Thrombolytics
Thrombolytics are drugs that dissolve blood clots, such as TPA (tissue plasminogen activator.

TIA
A transient ischemic attack or TIA is a temporary loss of or disturbance in brain function which creates symptoms that briefly (24 hours or less) mimic a stroke.  Though it may not be serious in itself, it indicates the potential for having a stroke. 

Vasodilators
Vasodilators are drugs that open ("dilate") the arteries, lowering blood pressure; ACE inhibitors are one of  the newest class of vasodilators