Cerebellar stroke, or, in other words, an acute violation of the brain stem, is a rather rare, but dangerous deviation in the circulatory system. Recovery after an attack is not complete even after an effective course of therapy and rehabilitation. The consequences of a stroke cannot be compared with other pathologies: from complete paralysis to death. Doctors use two approaches to the treatment of cerebral infarction - the prevention of an attack and rehabilitation after the transfer. Other options in this situation are impossible, because the hemorrhage occurs instantly and often the patient does not even know about the presence of the disease. Symptoms that portend a stroke are not pronounced, so you need to carefully monitor your he alth and undergo a medical examination at least once every six months.
Anatomy
When a cerebellar stroke occurs, the final outcome will depend on how quickly the patient is treated. Damage to brain tissue leads to a sharp deterioration in he alth and the development of coma. Next comesswelling, which in turn compresses the cerebellum.
Let's consider a cerebral stroke from an anatomical point of view. The tonsils are wedged into the foramen magnum. As a result of blockage of the vessel, complete paralysis develops, sometimes it comes to death. To help the patient in such a situation is possible only with the timely operation. Pathology occurs due to damage to the vessels of the brain. A similar effect occurs as a result of ruptured arteries and thrombosis.
Classification
Depending on the factors that influenced the appearance of pathology, there are two main types of the disease: hemorrhagic and ischemic cerebellar stroke. In the first case, the activator is vascular rupture due to an increase in their permeability. It is worth noting that the prognosis in such situations is not the most rosy, as this is a more dangerous form of the disease.
Ischemic cerebellar stroke is more common, occurring in about seventy-five percent of cases. The development of pathology occurs due to a decrease or complete cessation of blood flow to the tissues, resulting in neurosis.
The likelihood of such a disease increases after thirty years. Apoplexy, that is, sudden paralysis due to cerebral hemorrhage, is more common in older people. The ailment in question, namely cerebellar stroke, according to statistics, is diagnosed in fifteen percent of cases, other situations will be marked by other types of circulatory abnormalities of the central departmentorganism.
Due to damage to the vessels to the tissues, a sufficient amount of oxygen and other nutrients ceases to flow. As a result, the totality of cells dies, and the disease develops. The pathology reaches its peak when the blood supply to the cerebellum stops or a hemorrhage is detected in this area.
Causes of occurrence
Since the classification of the lesion in question provides for the division into two types, the reasons for the appearance of a heart attack can also be divided into a couple of groups. First, let's talk about the causes of ischemic stroke of the cerebellar artery. These include:
- the appearance of a blood clot, or rather a plaque. This situation is provoked by a disease called atherosclerosis;
- formation of a blood clot in the vascular structure of other parts of the body. In such a situation, there is a high probability of separation of a blood clot. Subsequently, it can wander throughout the body, and then easily penetrate the cerebellar vessel, blocking access to oxygen;
- too high levels of glucose and cholesterol in the blood;
- being overweight, sedentary, bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol;
- mental disorders that occur against the background of nervous breakdowns, stressful situations;
- blood pressure spikes, old brain injuries.
As already noted, the hemorrhagic type of infarction develops when a blood vessel ruptures. The main reasons in this case include:
- diabetes mellitus, abnormalities in the work of the heart and blood vessels;
- high blood pressure, obesity;
- sickle cell anemia, atrial fibrillation.
Risk groups
Medical experts claim that certain people are at higher risk of cerebellar stroke. In addition, there are also risk factors. The latter, in turn, are divided into independent (which cannot be influenced) and those that can be overcome.
The first option includes the following circumstances:
- the presence of a heart attack or serious abnormalities in blood circulation;
- too thick blood;
- hereditary predisposition;
- older men.
There are also factors that can be easily eliminated, and then the likelihood of a stroke will be significantly reduced. These include:
- excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages in large quantities and with relative persistence;
- high blood pressure, heart rate problems, high cholesterol;
- long-term use of hormonal drugs, including birth control pills;
- overweight, metabolic disorder, poor diet, high s alt content, sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work.
Symptoms of cerebellar stroke
We noted above that signsare often hidden, not clearly expressed. Of course, deviations are present, but it is almost impossible to determine their nature without diagnostic studies. Such symptoms are found in any diseases of cerebral circulation and not only.
What changes does a stroke entail? Let's dwell on the signs of pathology in more detail:
- problems with normal coordination of movements, habitual reflexes disappear;
- more often there are situations when it becomes difficult for the patient to maintain balance in an upright position;
- pain in the back of the head, dry mouth, swallowing becomes more difficult;
- pupils move uncontrollably, slurred speech appears, often the patient loses consciousness, there is a feeling of nausea and vomiting.
If you notice at least one sign in yourself or someone from your environment, you need to go to a specialist as soon as possible. The prognosis of life expectancy in cerebellar stroke is already disappointing, and if you delay with the help of specialists, the situation will worsen.
First aid
You should know what steps to take before the ambulance arrives in order to help the victim as much as possible. In such cases, painkillers should be given. Do not interfere with drugs that reduce blood pressure and relieve vasospasm. After that, you should put the patient on the bed and let him rest.
The victim's head and shoulders must lie correctly on the pillow. The main thing is to prevent bending the neck, because thiswill lead to impaired blood circulation in the arteries of the spine. The room in which the patient is located should be ventilated, but in moderation. A strong draft will obviously not benefit the victim, because it can chill various parts of the body. If, as a result of a cerebellar stroke, the patient did not faint, you need to give him a little water to drink.
The life of the victim often depends on first aid, so all actions should be performed quickly and accurately. The limbs of the patient must be fixed in one position, they must not be allowed to move freely. Such actions are necessary in order to make it easier for the ambulance crew to move the patient in a horizontal position.
Diagnostic measures
After entering the hospital, the injured are treated by qualified doctors. The first step in a stroke is to check the condition of the vessels. Indispensable research methods are magnetic resonance therapy and angiography of the vessels of the central nervous system. Based on the results of these laboratory activities, the doctor decides on further treatment.
For the sake of completeness, some experts conduct several studies to more likely diagnose pathology. Computed tomography and angiography are designed to evaluate the state of the brain. An electrocardiogram allows you to visually check the functioning of the heart. Doppler ultrasound for the vessels of the central part of the nervous system, a general blood test of an expanded type, physiological tests are carried out in thosecases where there is no confidence in the correctness of the diagnosis.
After the doctor determines the cause of the pathology, he chooses methods of treating cerebellar stroke. In each case, individual therapy is prescribed.
How to treat?
The method directly depends on the type of disease and severity. So, for example, if an ischemic form of a stroke is observed, the doctor prescribes medications aimed at dissolving a blood clot and expanding the walls of blood vessels. After the introduction of drugs, the specialist recommends taking medications that thin the human connective tissue.
Hemorrhagic attack is more difficult to treat. The doctor directs all his efforts to stop the bleeding. In some situations, surgery is necessary to remove blood clots from the vessels of the brain. In this case, you can not do without drugs that restore the rhythm of the heart and bring blood pressure back to normal. To speed up the recovery of the body, the doctor prescribes medications, the effect of which is to inhibit oxidative processes and utilize excess oxygen circulating inside. Nootropics and neuromodulators are considered the most effective. The prognosis of life expectancy depends on the timeliness of the application of the course of therapy. Cerebellar stroke cannot be attributed to simple pathologies, so treatment requires a special approach.
Surgery
People who have suffered an acute violation of the blood circulation of the brain, in most cases, it is recommended to undergo surgery. With ischemic pathologythe doctor changes the direction of the blood flow to the overflowing vessel, removes the plaque and removes the clot. An operation called angioplasty is used to return normal blood circulation to the cerebellum. Its essence boils down to the expansion of vessels by the surgeon, which were narrowed due to atherosclerosis. For greater effect, the doctor sometimes allows himself to make a stent. This is the placement of a small part in a vessel.
Hemorrhagic disease requires immediate assistance from a qualified specialist. During surgery, the doctor must remove the spilled connective tissue and install a special plug.
Rehab
Restoring movement coordination after a cerebellar stroke is quite difficult and difficult. It is worth noting that rehabilitation cannot begin immediately after an attack. To begin with, it is worth recovering from arrhythmia, normalizing blood pressure, restoring respiratory function.
Unfortunately, we can state a fact: after a stroke, a rehabilitation course will not restore all lost abilities to one hundred percent. After all, this is a very serious damage that leaves an imprint for the rest of your life. But if you follow the recommendations of doctors, you may be able to at least partially recover. Patients need to visit sanatoriums at least once a year. There you should undergo therapeutic massage, reflexology and other useful procedures.
Rehabilitation will not be effective without physical therapy andvisits to a physiotherapist. The moral component in this case is no less important. The main task of relatives and relatives is to support the patient, faith in his recovery. A positive mood is transmitted from person to person, and he himself will believe that he will succeed. And as we know, miracles happen.
Consequences and forecast
The consequences of a cerebellar stroke directly depend on how much tissue was damaged during an attack. Pathology can adversely affect the patient's motor activity. In ordinary life, this can be easily seen: it is difficult to stay on one leg when trying to sit on a chair. Quite often there is a staggering effect. After an acute cerebrovascular accident in most patients, the limbs tremble and the functions of several muscle groups are impaired. If the hemorrhage occurs in the left hemisphere of the brain, speech problems may occur.
Very few people who have been able to fully recover from a cerebellar stroke. The prognosis is unfavorable: the probability of death in such diseases is fifty percent. In practice, you can see a trend: most people become disabled after an attack.
The most dangerous time for patients is the first week. If a person was able to live a month with a cerebellar stroke, the chances of recovery and life expectancy will increase. Doctors say that all victims have the following symptoms: pallor, interruptions in heart rate, increased sweating.
Prevention
As you know, any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat later. Stroke is no exception in this case. If a person is at risk or has previously suffered a pathology, he needs to adhere to certain rules:
- go through a full medical examination every six months, including a brain scan;
- carefully monitor cholesterol levels, exclude the amount of smoked and fatty foods consumed, foods high in sugar and s alt;
- get rid of bad habits like drinking and smoking;
- sport is an integral part of every person's life. Every day try to do some exercise, do gymnastics, go for a run, etc.;
- avoid stressful situations.
As you have already understood from our material, one of the most terrible pathologies is a cerebellar stroke. Life expectancy fluctuates depending on many factors. It must be remembered that when the first signs of problems with blood circulation appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. You can avoid a stroke only if you take care of your he alth and pass a scheduled examination in a timely manner.
