Usually present at birth, a severe narrowing would show up in childhood, but a mild condition might be found in an adult with a difference in readings between arms.

The gastrointestinal string sign represents a severe narrowing of loop of bowel, in which a thin stripe of contrast within the lumen looks like a string.

However, these methods focus on detecting only severe narrowing, not the underlying atherosclerosis disease.

But your doctor may recommend surgery only if you have moderate to severe narrowing and a low risk of complications from the surgery.

If you have a severe narrowing of the esophagus, stomach, or intestine, you should not use the 240-milligram sustained-release pseudoephedrine products due to the risk of blockage.

"There was severe narrowing of the main coronary arteries by fatty plaques," he said.

For less severe narrowing, a medicine to prevent blood clots can reduce your risk of stroke.

Surgery or endoscopy may be needed to correct the narrowing (stenosis), if severe.

If severe narrowing is found, the catheter carries a balloon for squashing back the blockages and stents for propping them open.

This research has changed the primary focus for heart attack prevention from severe narrowing to vulnerable plaque.