A microstroke is a short-term acute circulatory disturbance in the cerebral or spinal cord. Despite the fact that the apoplexy stroke 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 microstroke. Prevention of the disease 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 the small arteries persist for a long time. Patients subsequently develop neuronal dysfunction.
The consequences after microscopic lesions are not so severe. Coma never arises, consciousness quickly returns, the reaction to irritation is restored almost immediately. 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 an impact, examination is necessary. Anesthesia and tears leave hematomas that disrupt blood circulation and contribute to the emergence of new micro strokes. A large number of small focal lesions without the absence of therapy aimed at eliminating them leads to extensive cerebral infarction.
Why does a microstroke occur?
The pathogenesis of circulatory disorders in the vessels of the brain is complex and diverse. A fundamental factor in the occurrence of seizures is obstruction to the normal flow of blood. What is a microstroke from? The reasons are many, conditionally they can be combined into the following groups:
- Violation of the nervous regulation of intracerebral vessels, leading to a reduction in the walls and narrowing of the lumen of arteries and arterioles. In the role of provocateurs are hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia. Also, an apoplexy stroke 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 areoles. Microstrokes caused by a violation of the integrity of the vessels are called hemorrhagic (occur against the background of various hemorrhages). The causes of the rupture are miliary aneurysm, destruction of the wall with vasculitis, thinning of the vascular walls due to atherosclerotic changes, a strong increase in blood pressure.
- Violation of general hemodynamics. The reason for the violation of cerebral circulation is a disproportion of the brain's need for 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. Blood circulation disorder is diagnosed in people of different ages. The following pathological conditions provoke an attack:
- systemic damage to medium and large ones as a result of accumulation of lipids in them, destruction of the walls (atherosclerosis);
- atherovenous malformation, aneurysm and other malformations of the 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 disturbance;
- endocrine disease characterized by nonabsorption of glucose (diabetes mellitus);
- congenital anatomical defects of the heart;
- a change in the biochemical and physicochemical properties of blood (adhesion, electrolyte imbalance, redox processes);
- degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the cervical spine;
- hemorrhages.
Risk factors include:
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking, including electronic cigarettes, hookah;
- drug use;
- lack of diet and daily routine;
- obesity;
- frequent heavy physical exertion;
- work with harmful working conditions (metallurgy, diver, manufacturers of building materials and others);
- poisoning with chemicals, metals;
- constant stress.
People at risk should be screened annually to identify and treat pathologies that can cause a microstroke.
Can alcohol trigger a microstroke?
Any kind of alcohol is perceived by the body as a toxin. Ethanol changes the structure of the blood, after getting into the bloodstream, platelet deformation occurs. 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 the death of cells.
But a microstroke after binge occurs not only because of the deterioration of vascular patency. Ethanol contributes to the expansion of blood vessels, pressure begins to fall, cells suffer from hypoxia. To restore blood supply to tissues, the body tries to increase pressure to the necessary limits. For increased blood circulation, adrenaline is needed. An excess of this hormone stimulates a rapid heartbeat, which contributes to spasm. Muscle contraction of the walls of blood vessels is one of the main causes of microstroke. Particularly dangerous is the use of alcohol for people with a tendency to hypertension.
The first signs of a microstroke in women
Violation of cerebral circulation in the beautiful half is a frequent phenomenon. One of the main causes of 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, which lead to an imbalance of carbohydrates, fats and, as a result, a worsening of the metabolism of these substances. Violations of metabolic processes lead to malfunctions of the hormonal background.
Often a violation of blood circulation occurs 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 must be sure to know how to recognize a microstroke.
Symptoms are the same for both sexes and all ages. The first signs of a micro stroke in women include:
- flushing of the face;
- objects are seen in a red halo or color, a woman begins to rub her eyes, but the effect does not go away;
- it’s not clear where the headache came from, in which a feeling of compression or, on the contrary, the fullness of the skull is created;
- partial loss of concentration of attention, a woman cannot find out where she is, what she is doing;
- rapid breathing, palpitations.
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, constant stress. Firefighters, police, miners, pilots of aircraft and racing cars are more susceptible to cerebrovascular accident than others.
Men most often relieve nervous tension and stress with alcohol. During breaks during physical labor, they have breaks. These factors further increase the risk of apoplexy stroke. Most men do not know what a microstroke is and what symptoms characterize it. Therefore, attacks are often carried on the legs. The stronger sex does not favor doctors and stubbornly refuses medical care even with frequent bouts of headache and general ill health.
In men, the first signs and symptoms of a microstroke appear as follows:
- flushing of the skin on the face, especially in the forehead, ears;
- dizziness with banging pains;
- lethargy, absence or weak reaction to what is happening around;
- sensation of "goosebumps" on the skin;
- numbness of the tips of the fingers and toes;
- impaired coordination: shaky gait, feeling as if legs and arms are moving involuntarily;
- facial muscle spasm contributes to speech impairment; instead of words, the patient makes incoherent sounds.
Working at enterprises and organizations of a man, they undergo a mandatory medical examination. Private entrepreneurs believe that a survey is a waste of time. The danger of ignoring the symptoms of a microstroke is also that unauthorized people can suffer during the attack. An attack may occur while driving, an accident will occur in which passengers and other drivers will be crippled.
Features of a stroke at a young age
The main etiological factor in the occurrence of a microstroke is vascular weakness. Depletion, blockage of elastic tubular formations are related to age-related changes. However, inexorable statistics note that small focal apoplexy stroke more often occurs in people under 30 years old.
In men and young women, the symptoms of microstroke do not differ from the general characteristic clinical picture in case of cerebrovascular accident. But the reasons make you think about the health of the nation as a whole:
- diseases affecting the myocardium and vascular channels of the heart;
- birth defects of the anatomical structure of the heart or large vessels;
- high platelet count in the blood;
- heart disease caused by exposure to an infectious agent: myocarditis, borreliosis, rheumatoid fever;
- severe forms of pneumonia, otitis media, pyelonephritis transferred in childhood;
- intracranial or arterial hypertension;
- congenital or acquired morphological or quantitative changes in the carotid artery;
- neoplasia in the brain;
- hereditary diseases of the vascular system. As a rule, the pathology is detected immediately, but over time, the fear of developing complications dulls in the 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 instant foods. A lack of vitamins, an imbalance of whites, carbohydrates and fats leads to the destruction of the walls of blood vessels.
Diagnostics
The main feature of small focal lesions of the cerebral and spinal cord is the rapid external recovery of the patient. After the attack, women and men independently come to a neurologist.
The primary task of diagnosing a microstroke is differentiation from other pathological conditions with similar manifestations. Apoplexy shock has a common symptom with epilepsy, myocardial microinfarction, the consequences of a closed head injury, carbon monoxide poisoning.
The basis of diagnosis is instrumental examinations. The best option is to conduct magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The study of microstroke on MRI allows you to clarify the location, size of the lesion. Assess changes in brain structures, the degree of edema, identify breakthroughs of blood into the meninges, ventricles.
The second most important diagnostic value and objectivity is angiography of cerebral vessels. An x-ray of the vascular wall with the use of contrast allows pathological changes in the blood supply to brain tissue. I prescribe the procedure for suspected aneurysm. With the help of angiography, you can see the places of blockage of blood vessels.
In addition to instrumental, laboratory tests are prescribed. Patients undergo a blood test to determine the number and aggregation of platelets. The coagulogram allows you to evaluate the coagulation ability of blood.
Such a comprehensive diagnosis using expensive methods allows with maximum accuracy to identify all the lesions, as well as to understand the causes of the development of microstroke and to select adequate therapy.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment should be carried out immediately, differentially, depending on the causes of the microstroke, the nature of the pathological process. In most cases, mini-seizures do not involve hospitalization. Therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis, but the patient should regularly receive and receive tests.
The basis of therapy is drugs that eliminate the consequences, preventing complications of an apoplexy stroke. Drug treatment includes the following types of drugs:
- Antihypertensive drugs. The use of this group of drugs with a microstroke allows you to quickly reduce pressure without affecting metabolic processes. Usually prescribed "Claudipine", "Carvedilol", "Diazepex".
- Anticoagulants - drugs that prevent blood clots, help stop the growth of blood clots that have already formed. The most effective is considered to be used for a microstroke of long-acting drugs: Warfarin Nycomed, Acenokumarol, Angioks.
- Inhibitors of platelet aggregation and red blood cells. Antiplatelet agents facilitate the deformation of red blood cell membranes, improve blood flow. These drugs can not only prevent gluing of blood platelets, but also cause disaggregation (Acetylsalicylic Acid, Dipyridamole).
- Corrections of cerebrovascular accidents - drugs used in cases of cerebrovascular accidents (Vinpocetine, Memoplant, Naftidrofuril).
- Nootropics. The drugs are used to improve microcirculation in the brain (Gliatilin, Cerebrolysin, Pantogam Asset).
Timely and adequate therapy avoids an extensive stroke, for the treatment of which surgical methods of therapy are often used.
Rehabilitation
In the recovery period, the main thing is to provide relative peace to the patient. After the attack, it is better to take a short vacation. During the rehabilitation period after a microstroke, medication is combined with other measures that contribute to a quick recovery:
- Exercise therapy is a special set of exercises, selected individually, based on the degree of defeat and well-being of the patient. Physiotherapy exercises improves blood circulation, normalizes breathing, and after mood the mood rises.
- Reflexotherapy is a therapeutic effect on reflexogenic areas (points). The essence of the technique is the activation of neurohumoral mechanisms that potentiate the recovery of the body. Acupuncture is the most preferred method.
- Massage is a mandatory procedure during the recovery period after a micro stroke. Usually perform 2 types of massage: classic general and massage of the head, face, neck. The latter is used to improve blood circulation in the surface tissues of the brain, normalize venous outflow.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures. With a small-focal circulatory disturbance, paralysis of the extremities, as a rule, "does not occur, so there is no need for methods that are mandatory for a regular stroke. After a microstroke, coniferous, salty baths are taken, heat-cold treatment is prescribed.
Prevention
To prevent a violation of cerebral circulation, you need to eat right, lead a moderately active lifestyle. You should abandon bad habits, avoid stress, get enough sleep, monitor weight.
The main cause of a microstroke is obstruction of blood flow. Often it is caused by an improper lifestyle. Attentive attitude to one's own health, regular preventive examination will help to avoid apoplexy attacks.