Microstroke is a short-term acute circulatory disorder in the cerebral or spinal cord. Despite the fact that apoplexy does not last long, the violation of blood circulation leads to serious damage to the brain. In order to prevent serious complications, you need to know about the causes of a microstroke. Disease prevention is the best way to deal with it.
Microstroke description
In neurology, it is not customary to separate an extensive stroke and a microstroke. However, most doctors believe that the latter is even more dangerous. With small-focal circulatory disorders, changes from damage to small arteries persist for a long time. Patients subsequently develop neuronal dysfunction.
The consequences after microscopic lesions are not so severe. Coma never occurs, consciousness quickly returns, the reaction to irritation is restored almoststraightaway. If a person has no idea what the symptoms of a microstroke are, he may not understand what happened. This is the insidiousness of pathological changes.
Regardless of the degree of damage to the cerebral vessels after a blow, an examination is necessary. Narcotization and ruptures leave hematomas, which disrupt blood circulation and contribute to the emergence of new microstrokes. A large number of small-focal lesions without the absence of therapy aimed at eliminating them leads to extensive cerebral infarctions.
Why does a microstroke occur
The pathogenesis of circulatory disorders in the vessels of the brain is complex and diverse. The underlying factor in the occurrence of seizures is obstruction of normal blood flow. What causes a microstroke? There are many reasons, conditionally they can be combined into the following groups:
- Violation of the nervous regulation of intracerebral vessels, leading to contraction of the walls and narrowing of the lumen of the arteries and arterioles. Hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia act as provocateurs. Also, an apoplexy can occur against the background of severe stress, constant overwork, lack of sleep.
- Deterioration of patency of arteries, morphological changes in blood vessels. The cause of blockage is atherosclerosis, parietal thrombosis, the presence of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. Often there is a microstroke after anesthesia. This is due to thrombosis of the internal carotid artery.
- Ruptures of pathologically altered arteries and areolas. Microstrokes caused bythere is a violation of the integrity of the vessels called hemorrhagic (occur on the background of various hemorrhages). The reasons for the rupture are miliary aneurysm, wall destruction in vasculitis, thinning of the vascular walls due to atherosclerotic changes, a strong increase in blood pressure.
- Violation of general hemodynamics. The cause of cerebrovascular accident is a disproportion between the needs of the brain in blood and the capabilities of the cerebral system caused by a transient decrease in blood pressure.
Who is at risk
It is important not only to know how to recognize a microstroke, but also how to reduce the risk of its occurrence. Violation of blood circulation is diagnosed in people of different ages. The following pathological conditions provoke an attack:
- systemic lesion of medium and large as a result of the accumulation of lipids in them, destruction of the walls (atherosclerosis);
- ateriovenous malformation, aneurysm and other malformations of cerebral vessels;
- arterial hypertension;
- hypotension caused by serious disorders in the cardiovascular system, myocardial infarction, collapse;
- myocardium, cardiosclerosis, rheumatic heart disease and other diseases characterized by heart rhythm disturbances;
- an endocrine disease characterized by inability to absorb glucose (diabetes mellitus);
- congenital anatomical defects of the heart;
- change in the biochemical and physicochemical properties of blood (adhesion, electrolyte imbalance, redoxprocesses);
- degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the cervical region;
- hemorrhages.
Risk factors include:
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking, including electronic cigarettes, hookah;
- drug use;
- lack of diet and daily routine;
- obesity;
- frequent strenuous exercise;
- work with harmful working conditions (metallurgist, diver, manufacturers of building materials and others);
- poisoning with chemicals, metals;
- constant stress.
People at risk should undergo an annual examination to identify and treat pathologies that can cause a microstroke.
Can alcohol cause a microstroke?
Any kind of alcohol is perceived by the body as a toxin. Ethanol changes the structure of the blood, after entering the bloodstream, platelets are deformed. With regular intake of alcohol, and even in large quantities, blood clots form. Violation of vascular patency leads to insufficient enrichment of tissues, including the brain, with nutrients and oxygen, which leads to cell death.
But a micro-stroke after binge occurs not only due to a deterioration in vascular patency. Ethanol promotes vasodilation, pressure begins to fall, cells suffer from hypoxia. To restore the blood supply to the tissues, the body tries to increase the pressure to the required limits. For reinforcedblood circulation requires adrenaline. An excess of this hormone stimulates a rapid heartbeat, which contributes to spasm. Contraction of the muscles of the walls of blood vessels is one of the main causes of a microstroke. Drinking alcohol is especially dangerous for people who are prone to hypertension.
The first signs of a microstroke in women
Impaired cerebral circulation in the beautiful half of the phenomenon is not uncommon. One of the main causes of a microstroke is pathological changes in blood vessels. Many women suffer from varicose veins. Hormonal disorders contribute to the development of the disease. Young people often go on diets that lead to an imbalance of carbohydrates, fats and, as a result, a deterioration in the metabolism of these substances. Metabolic disorders lead to hormonal imbalances.
It is not uncommon for circulatory disorders to occur during pregnancy. The gestation period is accompanied by hormonal changes, toxicosis, pressure surges. These manifestations cause circulatory disorders. Women who have had several pregnancies are at risk, and therefore should definitely know how to recognize a microstroke.
Symptomatology is the same for both sexes and all ages. The first signs of a microstroke in women include:
- flushing;
- objects are seen in a red halo or color, the woman starts to rub her eyes, but the effect does not go away;
- it is not clear where the headache came from, which creates a feeling of squeezing or, conversely, fullness of the skull;
- partial loss of concentration, a woman can not figure out where she is, what she is doing;
- rapid breathing, heartbeat.
If these symptoms occur, call for help.
The first signs and symptoms of a microstroke in men
The work of many representatives of the stronger sex is associated with hard physical labor, exposure to toxic substances, and constant stress. Firefighters, police officers, miners, pilots of aircraft and racing cars are the most susceptible to cerebrovascular accidents.
To relieve nervous tension and stress, men most often prefer alcohol. During breaks during physical labor, smoke breaks are arranged. These factors further increase the risk of stroke. Most men do not know what a microstroke is and what symptoms characterize it. Therefore, often attacks are carried on the legs. The stronger sex does not favor doctors and stubbornly refuses medical care even with frequent headache attacks, general poor he alth.
In men, the first signs and symptoms of a microstroke appear as follows:
- hyperemia of the skin on the face, especially in the forehead, ears;
- dizziness with bouts of pounding pain;
- slowness, lack or weak reaction to what is happening around;
- goosebumps;
- numbness of fingertips and toes;
- lack of coordination: unsteady gait, feeling as if legs and arms move involuntarily;
- spasmfacial muscles contribute to speech impairment, instead of words, the patient makes incoherent sounds.
Working at enterprises and organizations, men undergo a mandatory medical examination. Private entrepreneurs believe that the survey is a waste of time. The danger of ignoring the symptoms of a microstroke is also that strangers may suffer during an attack. An attack can occur while driving, an accident will occur in which passengers and other drivers will be crippled.
Features of stroke at a young age
The main etiological factor in the occurrence of a microstroke is vascular weakness. Exhaustion, blockage of elastic tubular formations are related to age-related changes. However, relentless statistics indicate that small-focal apoplexy is increasingly occurring in people under 30.
In men and women of young age, the symptoms of a microstroke do not differ from the general characteristic clinical picture in violation of cerebral circulation. But the reasons make you think about the he alth of the nation as a whole:
- diseases affecting the myocardium and vascular channels of the heart;
- congenital defects in the anatomical structure of the heart or large vessels;
- high platelets in the blood;
- heart disease caused by exposure to an infectious agent: myocarditis, borreliosis, rheumatoid fever;
- severe forms of pneumonia, otitis media, pyelonephritis suffered in childhood;
- intracranial or arterial hypertension;
- congenital or acquired morphological orquantitative changes in the carotid artery;
- neoplasia in the brain area;
- hereditary diseases of the vascular system. As a rule, the pathology is detected immediately, but over time, the fear of complications decreases in patients, and maintenance therapy is not carried out at the proper level;
- bad habits, smoking, alcohol abuse quickly destroy blood vessels, the first symptoms are attributed to lack of sleep or a large amount of alcohol drunk the day before;
- lack of diet. Young people eat 1-2 times a day, mostly fast food. Lack of vitamins, imbalance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats leads to the destruction of the walls of blood vessels.
Diagnosis
The main feature of small-focal lesions of the cerebral and spinal cord is the rapid external recovery of the patient. After an attack, women and men come to see a neurologist on their own.
The primary task of diagnosing a microstroke is differentiation from other pathological conditions with similar manifestations. Apoplexy has common symptoms with epilepsy, myocardial microinfarction, the consequences of a closed TBI, carbon monoxide poisoning.
The basis of diagnostics is instrumental examinations. The best option is to conduct magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The study of a microstroke on MRI allows you to clarify the location, size of the lesion. Assess changes in brain structures, the degree of edema, reveal blood breakthroughs into the meninges, ventricles.
Second in diagnosticvalue and objectivity is considered to be angiography of cerebral vessels. X-ray of the vascular wall with the use of contrast allows pathological changes in the blood supply to brain tissues. I prescribe the procedure for suspected aneurysm. With the help of angiography, you can see the places of blockages in blood vessels.
In addition to instrumental, laboratory tests are prescribed. Patients take a blood test to determine the number and aggregation of platelets. The coagulogram allows you to evaluate the coagulation ability of the blood.
Such a comprehensive diagnosis using expensive methods allows you to identify all lesions with maximum accuracy, as well as understand the causes of a microstroke and select an adequate therapy.
Therapeutic interventions
Treatment should be carried out immediately, differentiated depending on the causes of a microstroke, the nature of the pathological process. In most cases, mini seizures do not require hospitalization. Therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis, but the patient must regularly come to the reception and testing.
The basis of therapy is medicines that eliminate the consequences, prevent complications of apoplexy. Drug treatment includes the following types of drugs:
- Antihypertensive drugs. The use of this group of drugs for microstroke allows you to quickly reduce pressure without affecting metabolic processes. Usually prescribed "Aplodipine", "Carvedilol", "Diazepex".
- Anticoagulants - drugs that preventthrombus formation, contribute to the cessation of the growth of already formed blood clots. The most effective is the use of long-acting drugs for microstroke: Warfarin Nycomed, Acenocoumarol, Angioks.
- Inhibitors of platelet and erythrocyte aggregation. Antiplatelet agents facilitate the deformation of erythrocyte membranes, improve blood flow. These drugs can not only prevent the adhesion of platelets, but also cause disaggregation ("Acetylsalicylic acid", "Dipyridamole").
- Correctors for cerebrovascular accidents - drugs used for cerebrovascular accidents (Vinpocetine, Memoplant, Naftidrofuril).
- Nootropics. Drugs are used to improve microcirculation in the brain (Gliatilin, Cerebrolysin, Pantogam Active).
Timely and adequate therapy avoids a massive stroke, which is often treated with surgical therapies.
Rehab
In the recovery period, the main thing is to provide relative peace to the patient. After an attack, it is better to take a short vacation. During the rehabilitation period after a microstroke, medication treatment is combined with other activities that promote rapid recovery:
- LFK is a special set of exercises, selected individually, based on the degree of damage and the patient's well-being. Therapeutic exercise improves blood circulation, normalizes breathing, after exercise the mood improves.
- Reflexotherapy - a therapeutic effect onreflexogenic areas (points). The essence of the technique is the activation of neurohumoral mechanisms that potentiate the restoration of the body. Acupuncture is the most preferred way.
- Massage is a mandatory procedure during the recovery period after a microstroke. Usually 2 types of massage are performed: classical general and massage of the head, face, neck. The latter is used to improve blood circulation in the superficial tissues of the brain, normalize venous outflow.
- Physiotherapy treatments. With small-focal circulatory disorders, paralysis of the limbs, as a rule, does not occur, so there is no need for methods that are mandatory for a normal stroke. After a microstroke, they take coniferous, s alty baths, prescribe heat and cold therapy.
Prevention
To prevent cerebrovascular accident, you need to eat right, lead a moderately active lifestyle. You should give up bad habits, avoid stress, get enough sleep, watch your weight.
The main cause of a microstroke is obstruction of blood flow. Often it is due to the wrong way of life. Attentive attitude to one's own he alth, regular preventive examination will help to avoid apoplexy.
