The brain is the most important organ on which the functioning of the entire organism depends. Damage to its tissues can result in serious illnesses, which often lead to disability and even death. For a full life, it is necessary that the vessels of the brain, which are responsible for its blood supply, and therefore the delivery of oxygen and nutrition, are healthy.
Blood enters the brain through paired arteries: two vertebral and two internal carotid. The vertebrates, penetrating the cranial cavity, unite and form the basilar, or main, which, at the base of the brain, merges with a pair of carotid. This forms a ring, called in medicine the arterial circle (or circle of Willis) of the cerebrum.
Three arteries branch off from the ring: anterior cerebral, posterior, and middle. They pass along the surface of the brain and nourish its hemispheres. Through small arteries coming from them, blood is delivered deep into the tissues.
The system consisting of the vertebral and basilar arteries is called the vertebrobasilar system and is responsible for supplying blood to the posterior parts of the brain.
The system consisting of the carotid arteries is called the carotid system. It supplies blood to the middle and anterior parts of the brain.
Thanks to this mechanism, the brain receives a sufficient amount of blood, even if one of the arteries stops functioning.
Vascular diseases of the brain are considered one of the most common. They are mainly associated with blockage or narrowing of blood vessels, deterioration of the structure and tone of their walls. Such changes lead to poor circulation and insufficient blood flow to the brain.
Vascular pathologies can be congenital, and blood circulation is also impaired. For example, with a disease such as an arterial aneurysm (thinning and protrusion of the wall), which is most often congenital, it may rupture. Due to the weak and thin walls, the aneurysm ruptures even with a slight increase in pressure. And its jump can also occur in healthy people, for example, during anxiety or physical activity.
Doctors warn that there are more and more people with such disorders, and among them the number of young people is growing.
This disease leads to impaired blood circulation in the brain. The reasons for it lie in lipid metabolism disorders, as a result of which the level of fat-like substances in the blood increases: cholesterol, lipoproteins, triglycerides and others. They are deposited on the vascular walls, narrowing the lumen and preventing blood flow. First, cholesterol spots appear, gradually they turn into plaques, which can completely block the lumen, separate from the walls, disintegrate, move with the blood and clog other vessels.
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common cerebral vascular diseases
This disease is characterized by a stable increase in blood pressure. People of different ages and both sexes suffer. With hypertension, capillaries and arteries become tortuous, their walls become flattened, the lumen narrows, and complete closure of the vessels is possible.
Cerebral circulation disorders do not make themselves felt immediately. In the initial stages there are no symptoms. Even when the first signals appear, most do not pay any attention to them while the disease progresses. Common manifestations of vascular disorders of the brain include:
At the next stage, new symptoms are added:
As the disease progresses, which usually happens without treatment, the condition becomes increasingly worse. The following symptoms of vascular disorders appear:
If vascular diseases of the brain are not treated, the following may develop:
TIA is a micro-stroke in which neurological manifestations, such as decreased muscle strength and numbness, persist for 24 hours and then disappear. Seeing a doctor is mandatory, since TIA is a precursor to a stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke is a circulatory disorder that occurs due to a ruptured vessel and hemorrhage in the brain.
Ischemic stroke, also called cerebral infarction, develops if an artery is blocked by a cholesterol plaque, causing blood to stop flowing to a certain part of the brain.
There are several reasons for the development of diseases:
Various methods are used to study cerebral vessels and diagnose diseases:
Modern methods make it possible to make a diagnosis in the early stages, before symptoms appear.
Treatment of vascular disorders of the brain depends on the reasons that caused them, and can be carried out by different specialists: a neurologist, a therapist, a cardiologist.
The following medications are prescribed:
Without nutritional correction, treatment will not be effective. Therefore it is necessary:
In addition, it is recommended to maintain a normal weight, quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Physical exercise and daily exposure to fresh air will have a beneficial effect on blood vessels.
Traditional medicine offers its own methods of vascular health. There are many remedies that are available to most and can be prepared at home.
Garlic-based medicines are considered the most effective. Alcohol tinctures, garlic oil, and garlic milk are prepared from it.
To prepare the latter, you will need peeled garlic cloves (two tablespoons) and a glass of milk. Place the garlic in a saucepan, add milk, put on low heat and keep on the stove until the cloves become soft. Then the milk is drained and drunk a tablespoon before meals.
Another effective medicine, for the preparation of which you will need a large head of garlic and one lemon. Peeled garlic and citrus with peel are crushed, mixed and filled with water (one liter). Let it brew, then put it in the refrigerator. Take 50 grams before meals. Treatment should be carried out in spring and autumn. It not only normalizes blood pressure, but also strengthens the body's defenses.
Pour boiling water (0.5 l) into a glass of hawthorn fruit and place on low heat for a few minutes. Strain and add two tablespoons of honey to the broth. Take one spoon before meals and two spoons at night.
This is a good remedy for healing the blood vessels of the head. It should be taken daily, a teaspoon three times a day before meals (30 minutes). The course is 21 days, after which you need to take a break for a month, then repeat the treatment.
In order to avoid cerebrovascular accidents, prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis is necessary. First of all, it is a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
To keep your blood vessels healthy, you need to exercise. At the same time, metabolism accelerates, the heart works better, more oxygen enters the body, and cells receive more nutrients.
To keep your blood vessels healthy, you need to say “no” to smoking.
To prevent atherosclerosis, you need to combine physical work with mental work, as well as eat right. The diet should be dominated by foods rich in not harmful, but healthy cholesterol, as well as a lot of plant foods: greens, vegetables, berries, fruits.
If you have bad habits, you need to get rid of them ruthlessly. Smoking is especially harmful to blood vessels, which leads to spasms. It is this that often becomes the cause of hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Diseases of the cerebral vessels require mandatory treatment. Otherwise, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, and this is a direct path to strokes.
Atherosclerosis today is a fairly common disease that affects the blood vessels of the brain. Every year the number of people with this disease increases. Its danger lies in: from memory loss to stroke, which will lead to the death of a person.
To avoid complications, you should contact specialists as soon as possible. They will be able to prescribe the treatment that is right for you. I would like to introduce you to what cerebral atherosclerosis is, what are the symptoms and preventive measures.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease characterized by predominant damage to large-caliber arteries and accompanied by the deposition of fats (cholesterol) and proteins in the walls of blood vessels with the development of sclerotic changes in them (overgrowth of connective tissue) and calcification, which contributes to the narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, as well as poor circulation, even until complete obliteration (blockage) of the vessel.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels is one of the most common diseases of the brain, which affects vessels of the muscular-elastic type (arteries), with the subsequent formation of single or multiple atheromatous plaques on the inner lining of the vessels (endothelium) of the brain. This causes a slowly increasing, chronic lack of blood supply to the brain.
Atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries usually occurs in people over 30 years of age, most often in men aged 50-65 years, as well as in women over 55-60 years of age. Source: “hospital-israel.ru” The blood supply to the brain is carried out by a complex system of blood vessels. Blood flows to the brain through 4 large arteries: two carotid arteries and two vertebral arteries (extracranial arteries).
Atherosclerosis of these arteries can significantly impair blood circulation through them, which in turn affects blood supply and brain function. In addition to extracranial vessels, atherosclerosis can also develop in the intracranial vessels of the brain, which directly supply brain tissue. It must be said that atherosclerosis of the intracranial arteries is a factor in the increased risk of developing stroke or intracranial (intracerebral bleeding).
The first symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis usually appear at the age of 60-65 years and are interpreted as signs of aging, which is only partly correct. Aging is a physiological and irreversible process, and atherosclerosis is a specific disease that, to a certain extent, can be treated and prevented.
The initial symptoms of atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries may be episodes of “ischemic attack”, which are manifested by more or less stable neurological symptoms: sensitivity disorders (loss of sensitivity or its decrease in half of the body), movement disorders (paresis and paralysis), speech, vision, and hearing disorders.
These symptoms, however, are short-lived and disappear after some time. Against the background of severe cerebral atherosclerosis, a stroke can develop, which is the necrosis of a section of brain tissue. A stroke always manifests itself with persistent symptoms (loss of sensitivity, speech, paralysis), which are only slightly treatable.
Other manifestations of cerebral atherosclerosis are disorders of higher nervous activity (decreased memory and intellectual abilities), sleep disturbances, character changes (the patient becomes capricious, picky), and depression may develop.
If left untreated, multiple cerebral atherosclerosis can lead to the establishment of dementia (senile dementia) - a severe and irreversible decline in higher brain functions. Still, the greatest danger of cerebral atherosclerosis is associated with the possibility of developing a stroke. In fact, a cerebral stroke is the same as a myocardial infarction (death of organ tissue).
Like myocardial infarction, a cerebral stroke can be fatal and often disables the patient. Symptoms of atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of hypertensive encephalopathy (cerebral circulatory disorders due to arterial hypertension) or disorders of the blood supply to the brain due to degenerative diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis of the cervical spine).
In fact, elderly patients are likely to have all of these diseases, which suggests the need for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Source: “polismed.ru” Atherosclerosis is the main reason that disrupts the blood supply to blood vessels, tissues and organs. There is an idea of sclerosis as a manifestation of old age. Sometimes sclerosis is associated with absent-mindedness or forgetfulness. Both are wrong:
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels is a metabolic disorder in the body in which the content of cholesterol in the blood increases, penetrating into the wall of the arteries. In this case, cholesterol accumulates in the walls of blood vessels, followed by either calcification of the resulting plaques or their ulceration. As a rule, the risk of developing and developing the disease increases with age. Source: "dovrachebnyj.ru"
In fact, scientists have not yet fully studied the etiology of the disease; opinions are divided mainly in two: a consequence of the natural aging of the body or is atherosclerosis really a vascular disease? But speaking about the factors that provoke the disease in question, first of all, it is worth noting what reasons contribute to the appearance of cholesterol plaques on the walls of the vessel.
Since it is the latter action that causes the development of cerebral atherosclerosis. It is noted that any pathologies associated with poor production or breakdown of fats in the body are, as a rule, a consequence of impaired lipid (fat) metabolism.
These disorders include atherosclerosis and obesity, so people who are prone to obesity are more susceptible to this vascular disease. Also, the reasons that contribute to the occurrence of the disease are:
The first stage consists of the appearance of fatty stripes on the inner wall of elastic blood vessels and is invisible to humans. At the second stage, connective tissue forms in the area of fatty spots (stripes), which, with further growth, forms a plaque.
The surface of the plaque is uneven, lumpy, with possible ulcerations. This predisposes platelets and fibrin to settle on it. The final, third stage consists of calcification of the formation. Calcium salts are deposited on the surface of the plaque, it becomes strong and hard, and is capable of further growth.
To date, there are no effective methods for combating plaques at this stage. In addition, as they grow, they occupy more and more intravascular space and can eventually close it completely. In this case, there are two types of negative consequences:
Factors that aggravate the development of the process include:
Progressive cerebral atherosclerosis is characterized by certain symptoms. Signs of cerebral atherosclerosis:
Dizziness often occurs when there is a sudden change from horizontal to vertical body position. Progressive atherosclerosis indicates the rapid development of the disease, requiring immediate treatment.
Atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries can greatly change the personality of the patient. Over time, his behavior changes, and then the appearance of mental disorders is observed, accompanied by severe headaches. Local signs of cerebral atherosclerosis:
The most common consequences of cerebral atherosclerosis:
Cerebral atherosclerosis disrupts the functioning of the central nervous system. The degree of manifestation of this disease depends on the degree of destruction of blood vessels. When blood flow to the brain is disrupted, hypoxia progresses, accompanied by neuronal dysfunction. The main cause of this condition can be considered cerebral atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels.
The symptoms of this disease are closely related to the dysfunction of certain parts of the brain or a decrease in the level of brain activity. These include:
When microstrokes occur, paralysis, paresis, and aphasia are often observed. Symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis most clearly manifest themselves in old age. The causes of cerebral atherosclerosis are: impaired cholesterol synthesis; poor nutrition; chronic stress; burdened heredity; excess weight; diabetes; physical inactivity; hypertension; hormonal disorders; concomitant diseases that cause damage to arterial walls.
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis can be medicinal and surgical. In any case, the patient must follow a certain regimen, which includes special nutrition for cerebral atherosclerosis, giving up bad habits, proper daily routine, and moderate physical activity.
With this disease, the diet should be based on the consumption of seafood, vegetables and fruits. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of animal products as much as possible. Source: “golmozg.ru”
The disease is characterized by its diversity; the main symptom complexes include:
Thanks to the above, we can say that all the symptoms of atherosclerosis are associated with impaired hearing, vision, speech and coordination. The first signs of the disease appear more secretly; dizziness, tinnitus and headache can be identified, which appear after severe fatigue and go away after proper rest (the stage of initial manifestations).
Progression of the disease appears with the addition to the previous symptoms of incoordination (unsteadiness when gait), hand tremors, aggressiveness, depression (progression stage). As the disease progresses, significant impairments in memory and perception occur, deterioration in mental work is observed, and difficulties in self-care appear.
The risk of stroke and paralysis (decompensation stage) increases. A transient ischemic attack is a condition that is very similar to a stroke, only it goes away within a day. The main symptoms of this disease include:
Ischemic stroke - occurs due to obliteration of the arteries of the brain (cells die due to lack of oxygen supply). The manifestations of this disease include the following symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis:
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs much more often, develops quickly, and is characterized by hemorrhage in the brain tissue. Source: "medprice.com.ua"
The insidiousness of the disease lies in the absence of clinical symptoms in the early stages. Only indirectly, a specialist, during a clinical examination, measuring blood pressure, determining body mass index, blood sugar level, taking into account hereditary predisposition, can recognize the first signs of atherosclerosis. An indicator of the onset of the disease is the level of total cholesterol in the blood.
After thirty years, its upper limit within the normal range does not exceed 5 mmol/l. In order to determine it, it is necessary to donate blood for a biochemical study. The following research methods will help determine the degree of atherosclerotic vascular damage:
The treatment of the disease in the first stages is carried out by a therapist. Damage to blood vessels of various organs requires consultation with the following specialists: ophthalmologist, surgeon, nephrologist, etc. Source: “vcmed.ru” The following diagnostic stages can be distinguished:
Due to the complexity that is characteristic of such a pathology as cerebral vascular atherosclerosis, treatment with folk remedies for this disease is ineffective. All the patient can do on his own is to start a special low-fat diet to try to stop the progressive pathology.
In order to reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, it is recommended to stop consuming foods such as fatty meat (when consuming poultry meat, you need to get rid of skin containing a large amount of fat), fatty dairy products (milk with a fat content of more than one percent, butter, cottage cheese , cream), foods containing many simple carbohydrates (sugar, honey, confectionery).
The diet of a person suffering from atherosclerosis is not limited to avoiding only these foods; there are many other foods that contain large amounts of cholesterol. Usually the following diet is established: oatmeal or decoctions, various hawthorn products, low-fat cottage cheese. It is recommended to consume about one hundred and fifty grams of low-fat cottage cheese per day.
A more detailed diet will be developed by a doctor who bases his recommendations on diagnostic data, the type of cerebral atherosclerosis, and the type of atherosclerotic plaques. But not everything is as simple as described above. Diet can only help in cases where prevention is carried out or only beginning cerebral atherosclerosis is observed.
Treatment of advanced pathology and advanced cases, including acute cerebrovascular insufficiency, is carried out using more radical methods, not without surgical intervention. Before starting treatment, it is important to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the condition of the cerebral vessels in order to correctly determine the strategy and tactics of the operation.
At the same time, obliterating atherosclerosis represents the most difficult task for surgeons, the solution of which requires the participation of neurologists, who, after a thorough examination of the patient, prescribe conservative therapy in order to slow down thrombus formation and reduce the degree of progression of atherosclerosis, improve blood supply to the brain and prevent the development of arterial thrombosis .
If the diagnosis revealed hemodynamically significant stenoses, which are characterized by blockage of 70 percent or more of the total cross-sectional area of the vessel, or unstable atherosclerotic plaques were identified, then a consultation with a vascular surgeon is urgently scheduled. This specialist evaluates the patient’s condition from the perspective of his specialty and determines the extent to which surgical intervention is necessary.
It is worth noting that nowadays operations that restore blood flow in the brain are very well developed. The first such intervention was performed more than fifty years ago on the carotid artery. Since then, the risk to the patient during such an operation has become significantly less.
The operation involves the process of removing atherosclerotic plaque. Most often, such surgical intervention is performed according to the principle of carotid endarterectomy. It consists in the fact that the affected artery is exposed, the vascular wall is dissected and the atherosclerotic plaque or thrombus is removed from the vessel cavity.
After this, a suture is placed to restore the integrity of the vessel. This sequence of actions is not the same for all operations; there are a huge number of different options. Sometimes it is even possible to completely replace or prosthetize the vessel after removing the affected part.
Numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of such operations in the USA, Canada and Europe. Complications occur no more often than in one case out of fifty surgical interventions. These operations not only reduce the risk of developing acute cerebral circulatory failure, but also return the patient’s quality of life to the previous level, prolong his life, reduce the risk of developing dementia, eliminating the vascular factor. Source: “dementsiya.ru”
Modern methods of drug treatment are aimed at eliminating the consequences of cerebral atherosclerosis and restoring the normal functionality of blood vessels and arteries. For this purpose the following are assigned:
After the examination, the attending physician will prescribe appropriate medications. Taking medications will be quite long, and in some cases they will have to be taken for life. Therefore, before taking medications, you should carefully read the instructions and possible side effects. Source: "simptomy-treatment.net"
Self-administration of any medications without medical advice is not recommended. We list the substances prescribed by doctors in such cases:
For effective treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis, all factors that contribute to the development and progression of this pathology must be excluded from the patient’s life.
Surgical operations for cerebral atherosclerosis are performed in cases of high risk of complete blockage of large arteries. To normalize blood flow in a vessel, the following techniques can be used:
The success and productivity of atherosclerosis treatment directly depends on diet. Most often, people who are overweight are susceptible to this disease. To avoid complications of the disease and speed up recovery, you need to make a diet your lifestyle eating style.
Foods high in cholesterol should be excluded from the diet:
Instead of animal fats, you can use liquid fats of vegetable origin. Oils containing polyunsaturated fatty acids of the Omega group are especially useful: Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9. Flaxseed and olive oils are rich in them. Despite their high calorie content, these products help cleanse and strengthen blood vessels, restore their elasticity, and normalize metabolic processes. Source: "simptomy-treatment.net"
The therapeutic anti-sclerotic diet is of particular importance in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis. The diet of such patients should consist of the following foods and dishes:
If you are obese, you need to limit the caloric content of your food. For persons whose work is not associated with significant physical costs, it should be 2700-2800 calories per day (protein - 90 g, fat - 50-60 g, carbohydrates - 350 g). Source: "doctor-cardiologist.ru"
To make you feel better, you can resort to folk remedies - most of them are always at hand. Here are some simple recommendations:
There are also more complex recipes from traditional healers. Here you will have to mix various ingredients:
Atherosclerosis of the brain can also be corrected with folk remedies based on various medicinal herbs and plant components. The most valuable of them are elecampane, buckwheat, strawberry leaves, plantain, and rowan bark. Here are some recipes:
Prevention of atherosclerosis is based on a healthy diet and giving up bad habits. The accumulation of fat is fraught with a number of unpleasant consequences, including the formation of cholesterol plaques. Protein must be supplied to the body, but it is better to get it from dietary products - beans, legumes, soy, fish.
Physical exercise also has a significant impact on vascular health. Regular exercise will strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more elastic. Figure out your workday routine:
Regulate your blood pressure and check with your doctor at least once every two years. If you have diabetes, strictly control your weight, lower your cholesterol, and exercise more intensely. After 45 years, undergo a comprehensive examination regularly, as you are entering a risk group.
In general, experts recommend thinking about your health at the age of 20 and doing a biochemical blood test every 5 years, checking your cholesterol levels. The main danger of cerebral atherosclerosis is an asymptomatic course in the early stages. As soon as you notice the signs described above, immediately contact the clinic.
In the modern world, atherosclerosis is one of the key causes of mortality. The prognosis of the disease is quite sad - coronary heart disease. In many patients, the disease can be prevented - this also applies to genetic predisposition. A healthy lifestyle can delay the onset of the disease and its subsequent exacerbation. Therefore, you should listen to your doctor’s recommendations. Source: "prososud.ru"
Prevention of cerebral atherosclerosis is important for the treatment of this disease. It is worth noting that preventive measures are very simple and accessible to people of any age.
The main prevention is a healthy lifestyle, which includes several important points:
However, these measures may not be enough. To prevent cerebral atherosclerosis, you need to adhere to an anti-sclerotic diet. The following principles should be taken as the basis for a new way of life:
You need to try to walk as much as possible, reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, quit smoking, try to avoid stressful situations and negative emotions.
Today, one of the key factors of cerebral circulatory disorders, which occupies a leading place among the causes of mortality and disability in the population of highly developed countries, is cerebral atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries. This typical disease of civilization, characterized by narrowing of the lumen of intracranial vessels feeding brain tissue, leads to the development of atherosclerotic stenosis, which is the main “culprit” of ischemic stroke, discirculatory encephalopathy and vascular dementia (senile dementia).
Atherosclerosis translated from Greek means hard, dense mush (?????? - chaff, mush, ??????? - dense, hard). This is a chronic disease of large arteries, accompanied by lipid infiltration of the inner membrane and proliferation of connective tissue in the vascular wall. The first signs of the pathological process can be detected at average and even at a fairly young age (15-20 years).
Today, along with the generally accepted theory of lipoprotein filtration (accumulation of fat molecules in the vascular wall), there are other hypotheses for the pathogenesis of cerebral atherosclerosis: a primary violation of the protective properties of the internal epithelium of the vessel, lipid peroxidation, deficiency of essential polyene fatty acids, the presence of thrombotic, hemostatic and inflammatory factors .
At an early stage of the pathological process associated with lipid metabolism disorders, cholesterol (a water-insoluble compound that is the basis of an atherosclerotic plaque) begins to accumulate on the surface of a previously damaged vascular wall. Gradually, calcium salts and filaments of unformed connective tissue are deposited on this accumulation, and therefore the surface of the atherosclerotic plaque begins to acquire an irregular convex shape.
By narrowing the lumen of the vessel, cholesterol “growth” impedes the passage of blood and creates the preconditions for the occurrence of turbulent turbulence in the blood flow. This leads to the destruction of blood cells (platelets and leukocytes) and the gradual formation of a blood clot, which, under unfavorable conditions for the body, can break off and clog a cerebral artery. At the same time, a detached cholesterol plaque (softened by cholesterol esters or simply not having time to harden) can provoke an acute circulatory disorder in the vessels of the brain and lead to obliteration.
Most often, cerebral atherosclerosis affects the internal and external carotid arteries.
The main reason for the development of the pathological process is a violation of lipid metabolism, leading to the deposition of lipoproteins on the walls of blood vessels. This condition can be provoked by both exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) factors.
According to statistics, cerebral atherosclerosis is most often found in men over 45-50 years of age and in women over sixty.
At the initial (ischemic) stage of the disease, patients complain of impaired concentration and dull, aching headaches resulting from narrowing of the artery by atherosclerotic plaque, stagnation of blood and insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. At an early stage, pain occurs after mental stress, but over time it becomes permanent. Some patients become hot-tempered, aggressive, and have a tendency to hysterics and depression. Often, after proper rest, negative symptoms disappear without affecting a person’s performance in any way.
The thromonecrotic stage of pronounced clinical manifestations of cerebral atherosclerosis is characterized by a slow progression of symptoms. During this period, headaches become more pronounced and prolonged, memory gradually deteriorates, sleep and ability to work are disrupted, thinking slows down, tinnitus appears, and excessive fussiness is noted. Patients complain of dizziness, fainting, difficulty remembering current events (while remote memory remains intact), development of impaired fine motor skills of the hands, a feeling of impaired balance and instability in the legs. This stage of the disease is characterized by periodic occurrence of cerebral crises (transient ischemic attacks), characterized by severe headaches, impaired visual and speech functions, paresis of the lower half of the face, weakening or disappearance of sensitivity in the limbs, hemiparesis (paralysis of one side of the body). As a rule, such symptoms are observed for 24-48 hours, after which the patient’s condition gradually recovers. In this situation we are talking about a transient disorder of cerebral circulation.
If after two days the patient does not feel better, there is a suspicion of acute cerebrovascular accident (ischemic stroke), requiring urgent medical attention.
The final (sclerotic) stage of cerebral atherosclerosis, which is often called the stage of vascular dementia, is characterized by deviations in mental activity (cognitive, emotional and behavioral). There is a complete loss of working capacity, degradation of professional skills, loss of orientation in time and space, and inability to control one’s needs. The patient forgets acquired skills, and therefore requires constant assistance in everyday life. As dementia progresses, complete degradation of personality and maladaptation to the environment are noted, a voracious appetite or aversion to food develops, spontaneous bowel movements and urination, visual and speech abnormalities are observed. Such patients require constant supervision.
The diagnosis is made by a neurologist. This takes into account the medical history, patient complaints, clinical picture of the disease and the results of a diagnostic examination, including:
Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is carried out in a complex that includes pathogenetic and symptomatic therapeutic techniques and correction of behavioral risk factors. Patients suffering from cerebral atherosclerosis are strongly recommended to radically reconsider their diet, constantly maintain blood pressure within normal limits, and also control cholesterol and blood glucose levels. It is imperative to give up bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol), normalize weight, reduce neuropsychic stress as much as possible, streamline your work and rest schedule, and ensure regular adequate physical activity.
Drug treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is aimed at improving blood supply to cerebral vessels, normalizing lipid metabolism and rheological blood parameters, reducing atherosclerotic plaques, slowing the development of the pathological process and correcting concomitant diseases.
Drug optimization of blood circulation
To correct disorders that occur in the microvasculature, patients are recommended to take vasoactive drugs that affect vascular circulation. This group of medications includes calcium channel blockers (nimodipine, cinnarizine, flunarizine), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (pentoxifylline, theophylline, vinpocetine) and beta-blockers (nitroglycerin). Tanakan, a multidirectional drug that improves microcirculation and stimulates neuronal metabolic mechanisms, has proven itself well.
Antiplatelet (antiplatelet) therapy
Antiplatelet therapy is a pathogenetically based treatment method aimed at correcting and preventing atherothrombosis. Currently, 3 groups of antiplatelet drugs are used in clinical practice: agents containing aspirin, cyclooxygenase inhibitors and thienopyridines.
The most popular drug used in the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular pathologies is acetylsalicylic acid, which reduces the tendency of platelets to aggregate, suppresses the formation of thrombin and has an inhibitory effect on fibrin formation.
When taking aspirin in combination with another antiplatelet drug, clopidogrel, which is characterized by an alternative mechanism of platelet suppression, the effectiveness of treatment increases significantly, and many problems associated with patient resistance to aspirin are solved.
The use of hypolipidemic drugs that stabilize the structure of atherosclerotic plaques significantly slows the progression of cerebral atherosclerosis and reduces the incidence of acute transient cerebrovascular accidents. Statins have the greatest hypocholesterolemic activity, normalizing impaired endothelial function. They have a positive effect on the proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells and have anti-inflammatory, antithrombogenic and anti-ischemic effects. Most often, patients are prescribed simvastatin and atorvastatin, with the most pronounced hypotriglyceridemic effect.
As additional drugs, the use of bile acid sequestrants is indicated, used in combination with statins to further reduce cholesterol levels.
The first lipid-lowering drug, nicotinic acid, which can reduce LDL levels, has a number of side effects, is less effective and has higher toxicity.
More effective hypotriglyceridemic drugs are fibric acid derivatives (fibrates). Typically, they are used as combination therapy. Undesirable side effects include increased bile concentrations and the risk of developing cholelithiasis.
Of no small importance in the prevention and stabilization of manifestations of cerebral circulatory failure is given to maintaining adequate blood pressure (at the level of 140/80 mm Hg). In the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis, angiotensin receptor antagonists (angiocand, valsortan, ibertan, etc.) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (enalapril, cilazapril, captopril, etc.) are used as antihypertensive medications. When taking drugs of this group, in addition to normalizing blood pressure, cognitive functions of the brain improve.
As the pathological process progresses, a decrease in the antioxidant properties of plasma is noted. Therefore, in the treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis, patients are prescribed vitamin E, ascorbic acid, iodine preparations, Actovegin, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate.
This group includes drugs that normalize venous outflow, rheological properties of blood and microcirculation. The most common medications include ginko biloba leaf extract, dihydroergocriptine, Cavinton, piracetam and cinnarizine.
Antidepressants (amitriptyline), psychotropic drugs (halopyridol) and tranquilizers (diazepam, phenazepam) are used as medications for the symptomatic treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis. With the development of vascular dementia syndrome, patients are recommended to take cholinesterase inhibitors, which affect the exchange of neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
For patients with hemodynamically significant occlusive-stenotic lesions of the main arteries of the brain, surgical intervention is recommended (arterial stenting, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, bypass surgery and vascular replacement, carotid endarterectomy). Most often, the internal carotid arteries undergo surgical correction. The indication for surgery is the presence of a loose atherosclerotic plaque or occlusion of more than 70% of the lumen of the vessel.
Non-drug methods of influence include special therapeutic exercises, adequate physical and intellectual stress, rational psychotherapy and the patient’s feasible participation in social life.
For cerebral atherosclerosis, it is recommended to minimize the consumption of fatty, meat and dairy foods, salt, smoked meats, eggs, chocolate, cocoa, strong coffee and tea. Contraindicated products include strong meat, mushroom and fish broths, offal, fatty and salty cheeses, canned food, fatty fish, fish roe, cream products, baked goods, spicy and salty snacks, as well as sorrel, spinach, radishes and radishes.
The patient’s daily diet should include vegetables (onions, garlic, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, legumes, eggplants), herbs, berries and fruits, vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, soybean, corn), seafood and lean poultry meat, honey (if diabetes mellitus no more than a teaspoon), yogurt, kefir, low-fat cottage cheese, wheat bran, walnuts (1-2 pieces per day), seaweed.
It is preferable to boil or steam food. To prevent blood thickening, you should balance your drinking regimen (up to 1.5 liters of water per day). The calorie content of the daily diet should be 2000-2500 calories.
To prevent the development of cerebral atherosclerosis, you should strictly follow medical recommendations, including:
Patients suffering from memory impairment are advised to draw up a plan of activities for the day, as well as write down all the necessary information and maintain intellectual activity (listen to music and radio programs of interest, read, watch television broadcasts, memorize poems, communicate with family and friends). Such patients need to lead an independent lifestyle for as long as possible, perform feasible housework and maintain physical activity. To avoid falling, use additional means of support and observe safety precautions (shower in a sitting position, wear comfortable non-slip shoes, use special handles and handrails in the bathroom and toilet, etc.).
Cerebral atherosclerosis is a chronic pathology, which is characterized by a very long course. Active treatment in the early stages of the disease leads to an improvement in the patient’s condition and a delay in the development of the pathological process. In acute cerebrovascular accidents and extensive damage to brain tissue, the prognosis is extremely unfavorable.