People suffering from atherosclerosis often face a problem such as a narrowing of the blood vessels of the brain. The cause of the pathology is a decrease in their elasticity and the appearance of plaques on the walls, which gradually grow. This leads to the fact that blood flow in the vessels worsens, as a result, less oxygen and other necessary substances enter the tissues and organs.
The importance of diagnosis
If it was found that you have cerebral arteriosclerosis, drugs should be selected only by a specialist. It is not possible to underestimate the harm that the body can cause due to the deterioration of patency of arteries due to the formation of plaques on their walls. After all, all this leads to a decrease in the elasticity of blood vessels, cracks appear in them. And in places of damage, blood clots often form. Some clots can completely block the artery and cause the tissues in its channel to simply die.
It is better to check your health condition if you notice periodic dizziness, decreased performance, malaise, or sleep problems.
Treatment principles
Complex therapy includes the appointment of a number of medications. It is necessary to take not only drugs that dilate the vessels of the brain, but also drugs that improve blood circulation, thin the blood and reduce the likelihood of blood clots. An important role in the treatment process is assigned to nootropics, which are designed to restore nerve cells and improve microcirculation in tissues.
During therapy, it is important to strengthen the conduction of nerve impulses, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, accelerate the absorption of glucose, and remove free radicals that can destroy cell walls. It is also necessary to improve cerebral circulation. This is achieved by means of relieving spasm and dilating capillaries.
Treatment tactics
If you notice that the body begins to malfunction, do not let things go by themselves, consult a doctor and pass the recommended tests. After evaluating their results, a specialist will select preparations for your cerebral vessels. These can be drugs that relieve spasm, improve blood circulation, dilate blood vessels, or use drugs that help improve the absorption of oxygen by soft tissues. The choice of a particular medication depends on the nature of the pathology and the degree of its severity.
Attempts to choose drugs for cerebral vessels on their own, without the advice of a doctor, can only cause a worsening of the condition. After all, a specialist should evaluate blood tests, the results of ultrasound, CT and MRI.
Antispasmodics
In some cases, in order to improve the patient's condition, it is necessary to prevent smooth muscle contraction. For these purposes, antispasmodics are used. They are designed to quickly expand the vessels.
In the shortest possible time this can be achieved if nitroglycerin is used. But it is worth knowing that this substance has a rather short-term effect, but quickly removes the spasm of the cerebral vessels. The drugs, among which the most famous are No-Shpa, Papaverin, Eufillin, Dibazol, Caffeine, do not work so fast, but the effect of them persists for quite some time. They help relieve spasm of cerebral vessels. Drugs reduce the tone of all smooth muscles. Thanks to their action, the arteries expand, and blood flow improves in them. Also, all antispasmodic drugs have a hypotensive effect, that is, they reduce pressure.
Blood circulation aids
One of the main tasks is to normalize the intake of all necessary substances in the brain. Comprehensive treatment of pathologies arising from problems with the vessels should not only be aimed at improving blood circulation. It is also important to restore brain activity. For these purposes, medicines such as Piracetam, Picamelon, Nootropil, Memotropil, Lutsetam, Cerebrolysin and others can be used. All of them relate to nootropic drugs, with the help of which brain vessels can be cleaned . Drugs contribute to the improvement of microcirculation in problem areas, the passage of the necessary metabolic processes. Also, their action is aimed at inhibiting platelet aggregation, as a result of which the latter are not so actively glued together.
Means have a protective effect on the brain in case of damage caused by electric shock, intoxication, hypoxia. In addition, they contribute to the improvement of its overall activity. Separately, it is worth noting that this group of drugs does not have any psycho-stimulating or sedative effect.
Vasodilator
If problems arise, it is important to visit a doctor on time. A comprehensive examination will reveal the begun narrowing of the vessels of the brain. The drugs prescribed in these cases by specialists allow not only to normalize the state of the arteries, increase their elasticity and increase the clearance in them, but also reduce the risk of thrombosis.
Often, cardiologists recommend such drugs as Lovastatin, Mevacor, Medostatin, Holetar, Rovacor. All of them belong to the group of statins. These medications are designed to lower intracellular cholesterol. In addition, they restore endothelial function, positively affect the state of atheroma and vascular wall.
In addition, drugs that dilate the vessels of the brain, which are referred to as fibrates, can be used. These are drugs such as Zokor, Simvor, Simgal, and Vasilip. The main active ingredient in them is simvastatin. These are lipid-lowering drugs that are designed to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins.
Anticoagulants
In the treatment of blood vessels that feed the main organs, including the brain, an important role is given to antiplatelet agents. This group includes medicines such as Cardiomagnyl, Aspirin Cardio, Trombo Ass, Warfarin, Detromb, Clopidogrel, Curantil, Sincumar, Effient, and Ekstan.
All of these preparations for cerebral vessels are intended to reduce platelet aggregation. The main active substance in them is acetylsalicylic acid, ximelagatran, prazogrel, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, warfarin and other anticoagulant agents.
Only the specialist should select the most suitable medication in each case. Depending on the state of health of the patient, the characteristics of the course of his illness, the doctor not only selects the desired active substance, but also prescribes the optimal dosage.
Stimulant
If problems arise with the arteries that feed the brain, it is important that complex therapy be prescribed. It is necessary to carry out not only the strengthening of the vessels of the brain. Drugs should also stimulate the metabolism in tissues, improve regeneration and trophic processes.
For these purposes, drugs such as Actovegin, Piritinol, Gliatilin, Tanakan, Vazobral and other similar medicines are intended.
Means "Actovegin" helps to increase the level of ATP, amino acids, normalization of metabolism in cells. It also increases glucose utilization in cells and oxygen consumption.
The drug "Vazobral" is intended to reduce the aggregation of red blood cells and platelets. It reduces the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, increases the number of functioning capillaries, improves the processes of metabolism and blood circulation in the brain. It contains caffeine, which enhances excitation in the cerebral cortex, thereby increasing efficiency, reducing fatigue.
Ginkgo biloba extract
Some preparations for cerebral vessels can improve blood circulation, increase resistance to hypoxia, and reduce the permeability of blood vessels. Ginkgo biloba leaves can be used for these purposes.
This can be as filter bags that need to be brewed, like tea and drink three times a day, or tablets. The most famous medications are: “Ginkgo Biloba”, “Ginos”, “Gingium”, “Vitrum Memori”, “Tanakan”.
The main active ingredient in them is ginkgo leaf extract. This is an angioprotective herbal remedy. Preparations based on it affect the passage of metabolic processes in cells, normalize the rheological properties of blood and vasomotor reactions of blood vessels. With their use, the processes of supplying the brain with oxygen and nutrients, including glucose, are improved. These drugs help improve the tone of arteries and veins, and prevent the aggregation of red blood cells and platelets.
Symptomatology
In the initial stages of the disease, it can be quite difficult to understand that the vessels of the brain are affected. Treatment (drugs, as already mentioned, should be selected only by a specialist) is often prescribed untimely. In most cases, this is due to late visits to the hospital. It is necessary to start worrying even when the first symptoms appear - with fatigue, decreased performance, memory impairment. Any dizziness, impaired coordination, hearing problems, the appearance of tinnitus should alert.
It is important to know that the brain is extremely sensitive to any problems with the supply of nutrients to it. If the blood flow stops, then the death of nerve cells begins after 5 minutes. But even small failures are enough to deteriorate memory, motor reactions. In some cases, this can lead to disability or death. Therefore, it is so important to pay attention to the first “bells” of the body and consult a doctor on time. Also, do not refuse the prescribed treatment and be afraid that you will have to drink some pills for the rest of your life. This imposes certain restrictions (it is necessary to change the usual way of life, adjust the diet, etc.), but it reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, strokes and other cerebrovascular diseases.