A sharp narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels (mainly small arteries) of the brain is called cerebral angiospasm. Previously, this disease was considered the prerogative of only the elderly. Currently, due to a number of specific reasons (for example, environmental degradation, the acceleration of the pace of modern life and, as a result, the emergence of unforeseen stressful situations), the disease has significantly “rejuvenated”. Now they are quite often affected even by people under the age of thirty (and sometimes children). Untimely treatment of angiospasm of the cerebral vessels, as well as identifying the causes of its appearance, can lead to very serious consequences for human health. One of the most dangerous complications of the disease is stroke. Modern high-tech instrumental research methods can diagnose the disease with high accuracy even at an early stage, as well as choose effective methods of treatment.
Types of disease
There are two main forms of cerebral angiospasm:
- Primary. With this variety, spasmodic narrowing of the arteries is the primary and only pathology of the blood supply to the brain. Doctors often call this form of the disease cerebral vascular crisis.
- Secondary. A crisis condition occurs as a reaction to other diseases that occur in the human body. That is, the main pathology (for example, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine) is the cause of interruptions in the normal supply of blood cells to the blood (and, of course, oxygen).
Regardless of whether the angiospasm of the cerebral vessels is primary or secondary, the treatment of this potentially dangerous disease must be prompt. At the first symptoms (even minor), it is better to consult a specialist and, if necessary, undergo the necessary clinical examinations.
Main reasons
The main causes of angiospasm of the vessels of the brain of the primary form, as a rule, are:
- inherited predisposition to the disease, which is observed in more than half of patients;
- disturbances in the work of the vegetative-vascular system;
- previous traumatic brain injuries.
A secondary form of spasm may be associated with:
- hypertension
- various heart diseases (arrhythmia, angina pectoris, and so on);
- neurosis and general psycho-emotional instability;
- atherosclerosis of the cerebral and carotid arteries;
- inflammation of the brain (encephalitis or meningitis);
- osteochondrosis (especially the cervical spine);
- impaired normal functioning of the endocrine system;
- diseases of the liver, kidneys or thyroid gland.
Reasons for everyday life
The causes of angiospasm of the cerebral vessels may be factors that we rarely pay attention to in our daily lives. The disease can be caused by:
- frequent lack of sleep or overwork;
- emotional stresses and strong feelings (even positive);
- excessive use of alcohol-containing drinks;
- sudden changes in weather conditions (changes in outdoor temperature or atmospheric pressure);
- poisoning by chemical or highly toxic substances;
- lack of oxygen (that is, sometimes simply neglecting regular exposure to fresh air);
- frequent consumption of drinks with a high content of caffeine (for example, strong tea, coffee, Coca-Cola and the so-called "energy drinks");
- smoking
- side effects of certain drugs.
Treatment of cerebrovascular angiospasm caused by the above reasons is not required in most cases. To do this, just reconsider your lifestyle and get rid of bad habits. And all will be well.
External symptoms of the manifestation of the disease
Symptoms of cerebral angiospasm (causes and treatment can only be determined by a qualified specialist) depend on the form of the disease. Externally, the disease is accompanied by:
- short-term disorientation in space or fainting;
- dizziness and general weakness;
- partial numbness of the muscles of the face or limbs;
- headache (which usually appears in the back of the head or temples);
- distracted vision;
- attention and memory disorders.
The acute (angioedema) form of spasm can be supplemented by:
- slurred speech or its complete absence;
- swelling of the face;
- lack of coordination of movements;
- visual impairment;
- loss of consciousness.
Important! In severe cases (depending on the severity of symptoms and appearance of a person), treatment of cerebral angiospasm is required immediately. From how quickly the emergency medical call will be made, sometimes not only health, but also the life of the patient depends. Sometimes the score goes for minutes.
Instrumental diagnostic methods
Before deciding how to treat angiospasm of the cerebral vessels, a specialist, after carefully listening to the patient’s complaints, can prescribe various instrumental studies. This will determine not only the cause of the disease, but also prescribe effective drug therapy for a speedy recovery. Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to determine even a mild degree of pathology of blood vessels. Depending on the severity of the disease, the following is prescribed:
- magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of intracranial and cervical vessels;
- duplex scanning;
- ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck and head;
- contrast x-ray.
Attention! Timely diagnosis allows not only to quickly cure the disease, but also to avoid the serious consequences of angiospasm of the cerebral vessels, as well as its relapses. Once again, do not be lazy and go to a doctor's consultation. Your health is in your hands.
First aid at home
Treatment of cerebrovascular angiospasm (according to patients who have already experienced this disease) should begin only under the supervision of specialists. Prior to the arrival of doctors, publicly available first aid methods should be implemented to help stop the attack. So, at the first signs of the disease, it is necessary:
- wash with cold water;
- make a cool ten-minute foot bath;
- provide free access to fresh air in the room;
- do self-massage (effortlessly) of the temples, neck and neck;
- take a horizontal position, try to calm down and relax as much as possible.
Drug treatment
Currently, for the treatment of a disease such as angiospasm, a sufficiently large number of various drugs have been developed and are successfully used. Naturally, only a qualified neurologist selects and prescribes their appointment (based on the causes of the pathology and its severity).
Important! Self-medication can only aggravate the course of the disease and the severity of its consequences.
To relieve spasm and relieve pain, tablets or injections of antispasmodic drugs (No-Shpy, Drotaverina, Papazola, Andipala, Spazmalgona) may be prescribed.
In the treatment of cerebrovascular angiospasm (according to qualified medical experts, confirmed by experience of many years of practice), the effect of Eufillin, Dibazol, Cerebrolysin, Stugeron, Cavinton, Ceraxon and Actovegin is effective help normalize blood circulation processes.
If the attack is accompanied by a state of severe emotional arousal or increased anxiety, the doctor may prescribe a tranquilizer (Relanium, Seduxen) or antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Azafen). Although in most cases there are enough well-known sedatives (for example, tinctures of valerian or motherwort).
Non-drug treatments
To the already prescribed medicines, the attending physician may prescribe additional physiotherapeutic procedures. For example, one of the very effective methods for treating cerebral angiospasm in osteochondrosis (according to patients) is a special professional massage.
Electrophoresis sessions (using bromine, calcium or magnesium) and the implementation of special therapeutic gymnastic exercises (naturally, under the guidance of a specialist) also help prevent the negative consequences of the disease.
Fortifying water procedures, such as regular visits to the pool or taking a contrast shower, have a very positive effect in the fight against the disease.
Folk remedies
The treatment of cerebral angiospasm with folk remedies must be approached with caution and only after appropriate recommendations from the attending physician. After all, they are just additional “helpers” to the main drugs to eliminate the disease. In addition, a specialist, having studied the patient’s medical record, can protect him from side effects of one or several ingredients.
The most simple recipes for home use in the fight against angiospasm:
- 3-4 bay leaves pour 250-300 ml of water, boil for 5-7 minutes, let it brew (about an hour), filter and take a few sips throughout the day.
- Tea made from leaves of anise, yarrow, valerian and motherwort, which we drink instead of a traditional drink.
- Alcohol-free infusions of wild rose or hawthorn.
- We mix lemon and garlic (previously crushed in a blender or on a grater) with honey (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1), take one teaspoon on an empty stomach. Homemade medicine is stored in the refrigerator.
- Aromatization of indoor air using essential oils of lavender, peppermint, jasmine or valerian. To do this, it is enough to pour a few drops of one of these funds on a cotton swab and put it near the patient.
Homeopathic remedies
Although these remedies belong to the so-called non-traditional methods of treatment, they are used quite successfully to eliminate pathologies of the cerebral vessels. To relieve pain (depending on its location), they take Bryonia, Tsimitsifugu, Belladonna and Koffeu, to eliminate the consequences of lack of sleep and mental stress - Kokkulus. The antidepressant and calming effect is provided by Nervochel. The complex preparation "Traumeel S" has not only fast stopping properties, but also contributes to the normalization of impaired blood supply to the brain.
Important! The use of homeopathy is possible only after consultation with a specialist who, having found out the individual characteristics of the patient’s condition, will be able to recommend a specific drug (of course, in addition to drug treatment).
Prevention
Compliance with simple preventive measures will significantly reduce the risk of a disease:
- First of all, we provide ourselves with daily sleep (at least 8-10 hours, but for older people it is better and more);
- we avoid stressful situations, emotional upheavals and overwork;
- we carry out a set of daily physical exercises (which can be successfully replaced by cycling or walking in the nearest park);
- try to deal with bad habits (we reduce the consumption of nicotine and alcohol to a minimum, and even better completely abandon them);
- exclude from the diet or significantly reduce the consumption of fatty meats, smoked meats, coffee, black tea (especially strong), chocolate, mayonnaise, fried foods, eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs;
- We carry out general strengthening quenching water procedures.
The commonly available measures described above will help you strengthen the walls of your blood vessels and prevent spasms.
Possible complications and consequences
When conducting timely and effective treatment, angiospasm of the cerebral vessels in most cases (up to 70-80%) does not lead to serious complications. However, if you do not pay proper attention to seizures (even short-term ones), this can lead to blood clots, blockage of blood vessels, hemorrhage, stroke, or aneurysm. The most serious consequences of the disease (due to the failure to provide prompt medical care) can be paralysis (full or partial) or even premature death.
Important! In order to protect children from such serious consequences of the disease as slowing down development, hearing problems (or eyesight), neurological disorders or ischemia, parents should immediately seek qualified medical help at the first symptoms of pathology.
Retinal Angiospasm
Retinal vascular angiospasm - what is it? This is a disease that appears mainly due to a sharp narrowing of the lumen of the main cranial artery. The main symptoms are:
- short-term "blurred" vision;
- the sudden appearance of "flies", dark spots, sparks, luminous rings or lines in front of the eyes.
The treatment of the disease is carried out by eliminating the root cause that caused the pathology, as a rule, with the simultaneous participation of an ophthalmologist, neurologist and therapist. Ignoring retinal vascular angiospasm can lead to complications such as dystrophy, glaucoma, or even complete loss of vision. A regular examination by an ophthalmologist (with an examination of the fundus and vessels of the retina of the eye) allows you to identify the disease at an early stage and prevent its undesirable consequences. The timely use of sedative and dehydrating drugs (as a medical treatment) has in most cases a positive effect.
Important! Since negative processes can be easily stopped during the initial stage, the earlier treatment is started, the lower the risk of irreversible eye pathologies.
Potential patients
The risk group can be safely attributed to:
- heavy smokers with many years of experience;
- people who abuse alcohol;
- persons with significant problems with "excess" of their own weight;
- patients with a "bouquet" of untreated chronic diseases;
- persons with close relatives who have already suffered a stroke or heart attack;
- people living in regions with adverse environmental conditions;
- persons predisposed to nervous breakdowns and poorly tolerating various stressful situations.
Finally
A spasm that has arisen and promptly stopped, as a rule, does not lead to serious consequences for the general physical health of a person. However, the periodic recurrence of incidents should force any patient to take urgent measures to prevent the disease and immediately seek qualified medical help at the first symptoms of the disease. It must be remembered that angiospasm refers to pathologies, the success of treatment of which largely depends on how quickly it is started. The so-called “medical window”, during which the assistance provided will be most effective, is only 5-7 hours. A regular medical examination will help prevent this serious ailment (as, incidentally, many others).