Cerebrovascular disease

Cerebrovascular disease is characterized by damage to the brain vessels, resulting in chronic oxygen deficiency of the brain and a malfunction in its functioning.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]

Causes of the cerebrovascular disease

The main criterion for the emergence of this pathology is the destruction of the walls of the vessels of the brain and the deposition of cholesterol in them, resulting in the formation of a so-called plaque, narrowing the lumen of the vessel, and worsening blood circulation. The pathology of cerebral vessels is often observed in persons who have reached the age of fifty. The next cause of the emergence of such a pathology as cerebrovascular disease are inflammatory and deforming processes in the walls of blood vessels (vasculitis), due to the violation of blood supply and destruction of tissues due to narrowing of the affected vessels.

Such disorders have many types and are differentiated according to the severity of the disease, its location and course.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]

Risk factors

• high blood pressure;
• cerebral atherosclerosis - a disease of the cerebral vessels, in which cerebral circulation is disturbed and mental processes deteriorate;
• impaired blood lipoprotein composition (increased cholesterol levels);
• diabetes;
• nicotine dependence;
• excessive body weight.

[20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30]

Symptoms of the cerebrovascular disease

• reduced level of efficiency;
• rapid appearance of a feeling of fatigue;
• depressed state;
• insomnia;
• memory impairment;
• difficulty in thinking;
• excess fussiness.

All these signs are often accompanied by persistent headaches, dizziness, the appearance in the ears of a sense of noise. Brain crises that occur with these symptoms can lead to serious impairments in the functioning of the brain and cause disorders of the speech apparatus, sensitivity, and damage to the organs of vision. If such manifestations regress during the day, most likely, these are signs of a transient ischemic attack. If such signs have arisen and do not disappear within two days, most likely, there is a stroke, which in turn poses a threat to the life of the patient, can also lead to disability of the patient. The main difference between a stroke and an attack of a transient ischemic attack is that the neurological status after a stroke can be restored for many months and years, or it may not recover at all.

In cases when cerebrovascular disease does not provoke a stroke, it can cause mental disability, up to the development of vascular dementia - memory, attention, speech, gnosis, praxis, ability to think, plan, make a decision, give an account of their actions. Accompanying symptoms can be swaying with walking, dizziness, etc.

[31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36]

Complications and consequences

Complications of cerebrovascular disease can be acute strokes and transient ischemic attacks, discirculatory encephalopathy leading to increasing diffuse structural changes with impaired brain function (manifested as multifocal brain function abnormalities), as well as vascular dementia. This classification is very conventional, since the stroke mainly occurs against a background of chronic cerebral ischemia and is the next phase of cerebrovascular disease.

[37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48]

Diagnostics of the cerebrovascular disease

For a full and comprehensive diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, the patient is assigned magnetic resonance imaging, contrast radiographic examination of blood vessels, an analysis of blood flow. Also shown is a method of diagnosis as phlebography - allows you to establish the distribution of veins on a certain segment of the body. As a check, brain scintigraphy and duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries are also prescribed.

[49], [50], [51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58]

Treatment of the cerebrovascular disease

Cerebrovascular disease should be treated in a comprehensive manner. These measures involve the rejection of bad habits, weight correction, a balanced healthy diet. In the treatment, antiplatelet agents such as dipyridamole are initially indicated. The patient is prescribed drugs that promote the expansion of cerebral vessels, blocking the membrane calcium channels, increasing the resistance of tissues to hypoxia, which have a positive effect on the elasticity of nerve cell membranes, as well as on receptor function (nicergoline, vinpocetine, cerebrolysin, cinnarizine, piracetam, gliatilin, nimodipine, instenon, etc.).

Cryoapheresis, or cryoperscription, is based on the ability of some molecules to polymerize when they are affected by temperature and chemical factors. Thanks to this method, not only elements that provoke a degenerative change in artery walls are neutralized from the blood, but also the elastic properties of the vessels improve. As a result, the blood supply to the brain is normalized and the symptoms that are characteristic of such a pathology as cerebrovascular disease are eliminated.

Endarterectomy - surgical scraping of the internal wall of the artery, which formed an atherosclerotic plaque. After this operation, the lumen of the artery expands significantly, thereby restoring blood circulation. It is shown in especially severe cases.

Angioplasty. In this procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted into the artery lumen, which widens the artery lumen and restores blood flow.

Stenting of the carotid artery may be in addition to angioplasty - a special stent is installed, which allows maintaining the lumen of the vessel open.

Prevention

To prevent such a disease as cerebrovascular disease, you should maintain normal blood pressure, treat associated diseases that cause the risk of this pathology (diabetes mellitus), give up alcohol and nicotine, and normalize weight. In order to improve cerebral circulation, you can use the drug oxybral (active substance on a plant basis - vinquin). The drug has an effect through the regulation of the effect on the cerebral vessels. It improves metabolic processes in the brain, increases the supply of neurons with oxygen in cases of its insufficiency, promotes the normalization of blood circulation in the vessels of the brain. The drug is non-toxic, it is a promising remedy intended for the correction of mental activity.

[59], [60], [61], [62], [63], [64], [65], [66], [67]

Forecast

With correctly chosen tactics of treatment, it is possible to significantly improve the patient's quality of life, reduce the risk of stroke, normalize the lipid spectrum, improve the elasticity of the cerebral vessels, completely get rid of the symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis.

Cerebrovascular disease - the pathology of the blood vessels of the brain and its membranes - can not be diagnosed and cured independently, requires detailed examination and competent treatment prescribed by an experienced neurologist.

[68], [69], [70], [71], [72], [73], [74]