Cerebrovascular disease

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

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Causes cerebrovascular disease

The main criterion for the occurrence of this pathology is damage to the walls of the brain vessels and the deposition of cholesterol in them, resulting in the formation of a so-called plaque, narrowing of the lumen of the vessel, and deterioration of blood circulation. Pathology of the vessels of the brain is often observed in people who have reached the age of fifty. The next cause of such a pathology as cerebrovascular disease is inflammatory and deforming processes in the walls of blood vessels (vasculitis), due to impaired blood supply and tissue destruction due to narrowing of the affected vessels.

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

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Risk factors

• high blood pressure;
• cerebral atherosclerosis is a disease of the blood vessels of the brain, in which cerebral circulation is disrupted and mental processes deteriorate;
• abnormal composition of blood lipoproteins (increased cholesterol levels);
• diabetes mellitus;
• nicotine addiction;
• excess body weight.

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Symptoms cerebrovascular disease

• decreased level of performance;
• rapid onset of a feeling of fatigue;
• depressed state;
• insomnia;
• memory impairment;
• difficulty thinking;
• excessive fussiness.

All these symptoms are often accompanied by persistent headaches, dizziness, and the appearance of a sensation of noise in the ears. Cerebral crises that occur with these symptoms can lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the brain and provoke speech disorders, sensitivity, and damage to the organs of vision. If such manifestations regress within 24 hours, these are most likely signs of a transient ischemic attack. If such symptoms arise and do not disappear within two days, most likely a stroke has occurred, which in turn poses a threat to the patient's life and can also lead to disability of the patient. The main difference between a stroke and a transient ischemic attack is that the neurological status after a stroke can be restored for many months and years, or may not be restored at all.

In cases where cerebrovascular disease does not provoke a stroke, it can cause a disturbance of mental abilities, up to the development of vascular dementia - a disturbance of memory, attention, speech, gnosis, praxis, the ability to think, plan, make decisions, and give an account of one's actions. Accompanying symptoms may include unsteadiness when walking, dizziness, etc.

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Complications and consequences

Complications of cerebrovascular disease may include acute strokes and transient ischemic attacks, cerebrovascular insufficiency, leading to increasing diffuse structural changes with impaired brain function (manifested as multifocal disorders of brain function), and vascular dementia. This classification is rather arbitrary, since stroke mainly occurs against the background of chronic cerebral ischemia and is the next phase of cerebrovascular disease.

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Diagnostics cerebrovascular disease

For a complete and comprehensive diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, the patient is prescribed magnetic resonance imaging, contrast X-ray examination of blood vessels, and blood flow analysis. Also indicated is such a diagnostic method as phlebography - it allows you to determine the distribution of veins on a certain segment of the body. Scintigraphy of the brain and duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries are also prescribed as an examination.

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Treatment cerebrovascular disease

Cerebrovascular disease should be treated comprehensively. These measures involve giving up bad habits, weight correction, and a balanced healthy diet. Antiplatelet agents, such as dipyridamole, are initially indicated for treatment. The patient is prescribed drugs that promote the expansion of cerebral vessels, block membrane calcium channels, increase tissue resistance to hypoxia, 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 cryopercipitation, is based on the ability of some molecules to polymerize when exposed to temperature and chemical factors. Thanks to this method, not only are elements that provoke degenerative changes in the arterial walls neutralized from the blood, but the elastic properties of the vessels are also improved. As a result, the blood supply to the brain is normalized and the symptoms characteristic of such a pathology as cerebrovascular disease are eliminated.

Endarterectomy is a surgical scraping of the inner wall of the artery where an atherosclerotic plaque has formed. After this operation, the lumen of the artery is significantly widened, thereby restoring blood circulation. It is indicated in particularly severe cases.

Angioplasty: This procedure involves inserting a catheter with an inflatable balloon into the artery, which widens the artery and restores blood flow.

Stenting of the carotid artery can be an addition to angioplasty - a special stent is installed to keep the lumen of the vessel open.

Prevention

To prevent such a disease as cerebrovascular disease, it is necessary to maintain normal blood pressure, treat concomitant diseases that provoke the risk of developing this pathology (diabetes mellitus), give up alcohol and nicotine, and normalize weight. In order to improve cerebral circulation, you can use the drug oxybral (the active substance is plant-based - vincamine). The drug has an effect through the regulation of the effect on the cerebral vessels. It helps to improve metabolic processes in the brain, increases the supply of oxygen to neurons in cases of its deficiency, and helps to normalize blood circulation in the vessels of the brain. The drug is non-toxic, is a promising remedy designed to correct mental activity.

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Forecast

With the right treatment tactics, 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 brain vessels, and completely eliminate the symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis.

Cerebrovascular disease - a pathology of the blood vessels of the brain and its membranes - cannot be diagnosed and treated independently, it requires a detailed examination and competent treatment prescribed by an experienced neurologist.

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