Cerebral ischemia is a pathological condition in which brain cells do not receive enough oxygen molecules, which leads to starvation. The consequences are severe, since among all human organs, it is the brain that has a special need for oxygen for the adequate functioning of neural structures.
Features of the disease
Cerebral ischemia is a pathological condition in which GM tissue suffers. This organ accounts for about 3% of the total mass, and the functionality is such that one fifth of all the blood present in the body passes through the brain structures. The likelihood of pathology is more characteristic of diabetics, as well as people suffering from heart diseases, adhering to an unhealthy diet. Ischemia threatens alcohol abusers and leads inactive lives. The risk of ischemia increases with age.
Cerebral ischemia is a predictable pathology. Out of nothing, without risk factors, it does not appear. The process is rather slow, most progressing for years before an acute attack. Since the course is secretive, timely diagnosis is a serious problem of modern medicine.
Where did the trouble come from?
Any person needs to know the causes and symptoms of cerebral vascular ischemia - this allows you to protect yourself, notice a doubtful condition in time, and consult a doctor. Improving the literacy of the population in the pathological conditions of GM, according to doctors, is one of the important tasks of modern medicine. Knowing the causes of the condition, a person can understand that he is in danger. Atherosclerosis, thrombosis, insufficiency of the heart and increased blood pressure indicate an increased likelihood of ischemia.
All of the above factors from among those that can provoke cerebral ischemia of the brain are considered to be the main ones. In addition to them, they identify additional, directly pathological, not causing, but increasing the risk of its occurrence. These include diseases of the blood, heart, blood vessels, spinal column. The likelihood of ischemia with vasculitis, anemia, impaired speed and rhythm of the heartbeat is higher. Ischemia can provoke carbon dioxide poisoning.
Forms and Features
There are two types: acute, chronic ischemia of cerebral vessels. In the first case, the reason is a sharp lack of oxygen in the brain cells, the second option is the gradual development of a pathological condition due to blood flow problems in the organ. In a chronic form, the disease usually appears after an acute attack that is left without adequate treatment. In such a situation, the condition gradually progresses. The consequences are the most negative.
Symptomatology
The first symptom of cerebral ischemia is increased, rapid fatigue, decreased performance. It is known from medical statistics that only for this reason people rarely turn to doctors, therefore the disease gradually progresses. Symptoms of pathology that are more characteristic and disturbing the patient are weakness, nausea, and migraine.
Many seek help only when persistent symptoms of cerebral ischemia appear. The doctor chooses the treatment based on the characteristics of the condition. As a rule, the incentive to go to the doctor is often responding to pain, dizzy, increased fatigue and a tendency to get irritated. With ischemia, the pressure often changes from high to low. Some are characterized by fainting, others become too agitated, and some have speech impairment.
Stages and manifestations
The first stage of ischemia manifests itself as fatigue, a tendency to aggressiveness or irritation. It is difficult for the patient to concentrate, the speed of brain reactions decreases, intellectual abilities weaken. Gait instability is possible.
The second stage of ischemia is characterized by ataxia, insufficiency of the nervous system of GM. Possible loss of control over the emotional state. The patient's ability to work is reduced.
The third stage is a violation of coordination, gait. It is difficult for the patient to maintain balance. Concerned about urinary incontinence, difficulty with speech, memory impairment. Well-being is becoming much worse, performance is completely inhibited.
How to determine?
Before starting treatment of cerebral ischemia, it is necessary to clarify the patient's condition. The doctor collects complaints, draws up a medical history, and clarifies the family history of the disease. Assign laboratory tests, determine the biochemical composition of the blood, the content of sugars, cholesterol fractions. A study of the work of the heart, electroencephalography, ultrasound, CT is shown. Check the speed of blood flow.
Possible consequences
If it is possible to detect ischemia early, a full cure is possible without negative consequences. The situation is complicated if there are accompanying diseases, impaired functioning of the heart or endocrine system, metabolism. In this case, even adequate treatment does not avoid the deterioration of performance. In some cases, the patient is given the status of a disabled person.
If the disease is severe, if the diagnosis was made only in the third stage, complications can be irreversible. A person loses the opportunity to work, communicate, serve himself.
How to help?
Cerebral ischemia is treated under the supervision of a neurologist. The main objectives of the therapeutic course are two: normalize blood flow, provide brain tissue with conditions for adequate functioning.
As a rule, the patient is prescribed medication. Vasodilator drugs that improve the quality of the blood supply to the brain are useful. The most popular option is Pentoxifylline.
Drugs prescribed by a doctor for cerebral ischemia are also tools to prevent thrombosis. The most affordable option is Aspirin. To stimulate the brain recommend "Piracetam", "Cerebrozin."
Treatment of chronic cerebral ischemia involves the use of "Nimodipine", "Bilobil". Due to such medical options, blood flow is stimulated, which means that the supply of oxygen and the provision of cells with everything necessary for functioning are guaranteed.
The nuances of therapy
Choosing how to treat cerebral ischemia, a professional sometimes recommends surgery. This is true if the disease has already developed to its worst form, medications do not show a pronounced effect, serious vascular damage is observed. Failure to do so may result in death.
When deciding on a medical course, the doctor prescribes a program for the patient, specifying which drugs and in what dosage, how often to use. Although most of the above funds in pharmacies can be bought without any difficulty, self-treatment of ischemia is strictly prohibited - the probability of negative consequences is too high, and the choice of an unsuccessful course leads to the development of side effects.
When every minute counts
In an acute ischemic attack, it is necessary to provide the patient with emergency medical care. Just a few minutes after the onset of an attack of tissue, pathological changes are already undergoing. The first five minutes, blood rushes more actively to the vessels of the area near the victim, after which the tissues are faced with a lack of oxygen and nutrients. The restricted area suffers greatly. In the chronic form, the processes are not so fast, but the blood flow is steadily deteriorating, so the tissues undergo destructive changes with the same inevitability.
To assist the patient, they are given drugs for vasodilatation and neuroprotective, reparative therapy is prescribed. The program is developed comprehensively, individually, choosing modern means. During the attack, medications are injected, with the chronicle, options for oral administration are more suitable.
About the nuances of medicines
With ischemia, pressure-lowering drugs are indicated. Sometimes the doctor prescribes Kapoten, Amprilan, and Lisinopril. To increase the effectiveness of ACE inhibitors, drugs are used in combination with diuretics. The classic version is Indapamide and Hydrochlorothiazide.
Lowering the pressure in the arteries, stabilizing indicators - an indispensable step in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Increased pressure, even with an insignificant deviation of the indicators from the norm, seriously worsens the condition of the patient with ischemia. Pressure controls are designed for continuous use. It is categorically impossible to stop using it yourself, since there is a high probability of indicators returning to their previous high levels in the shortest possible time. Some drugs provoke the effect of cancellation.
Blood clots and danger to life
The treatment of ischemia involves the use of medications that reduce the likelihood of blood clots - atherosclerosis, increased blood viscosity can provoke them. During an attack, thrombolytics are indicated, for example, Streptokinase, Thromboflux, Urokinase-Plasminogen.
If a blood clot has already formed, it is necessary to remove it and quickly restore blood circulation. You can’t help yourself at home - you need help from the resuscitation team. With timely started therapy, a blood clot can be dissolved if the drug is injected into a vein. The choice of means is at the discretion of the ambulance crew. Sometimes they use the Streptokinase drug mentioned above.
As a rule, the best results are shown by the combined use of several drugs at the same time.
Stabilization and minimization of consequences
Acute, chronicle - any form of a pathological condition leads to undesirable consequences. When choosing the appropriate therapy, it is possible to quickly restore the condition while minimizing complications. If the brain structures are significantly damaged, the quality of life of the patient is greatly reduced. In chronicles, after an acute attack it is necessary to take reparative agents (Actovegin, Cerebrolysin). The doctor will direct you to physiotherapy. If possible, treatment should be carried out in sanatorium conditions. To stimulate and normalize motor function, massage, physical education, and gymnastics are necessary.
The patient is registered with a cardiologist for a long time. If ischemia is diagnosed, it is necessary to go through step-by-step long preventive courses with constant medical supervision. This will prevent a new exacerbation.
With a well-chosen program, the symptomatology of the disease weakens, memory is restored, human activity increases, and the ability to concentrate. To determine the level of treatment effectiveness, the patient's condition can be regularly assessed through diagnostic complexes. Rehabilitation helps to normalize brain activity, which means that a person will be able to return to their previous lives with a minimum of restrictions.
Nutrition rules
Diet for cerebral ischemia - the official medical table 10c. It is designed to stimulate metabolism, blood flow, lower blood viscosity. The patient will have to strictly control the intake of salt, fatty structures of animal origin. It is necessary to eat fiber, vitamins, foods with potassium, magnesium, vegetable oils. The daily menu should include kelp and seafood, rich in iodine, zinc, vitamin complexes, methionine.
Dishes are prepared strictly without salt, but a small amount is allowed right before use. Fish, meat are allowed in baked, boiled form. A day you need to eat about 2 kg, drink 4 liters. Special temperature conditions are not required. The detail of the diet is six times a knock. 90 g of protein structures should enter the body, 70 g of fatty ones, of which no more than a third are animals. Carbohydrate saturation - 300 g. Energy value - 2,200 Kcal.
It is recommended to eat vegetable soups, yesterday's salt-free bread, boiled fish, lean meat. Useful vegetables, sorrel. To a limited extent, you can eat pasta, puddings. Up to three pieces per week are allowed to include boiled eggs in the diet. You can cook a protein omelet for a couple. Milk is shown in its natural form in various dishes. You can eat cottage cheese and dairy products. Recommended fruits, berries, natural juice.
Special occasion
Cerebral ischemia of the brain in newborns is a particularly important topic studied by modern medicine. The causes of this pathological condition in babies are several. If ischemia is detected, the child is left in the hospital until the condition stabilizes.
A high percentage of cases occur in blood clots: ischemia is due to blockage of the blood vessel. In an acute attack, there is a risk of death. Sometimes ischemia appears against the background of caisson disease, a violation of the integrity of the tubular bones of the limbs, of various organs and tissues. The brain may be injured if the lungs are injured, if an injection in the vein is incorrectly delivered.
Parasitic invasion is associated with certain risks: toxins secreted by harmful organisms can affect the quality of the blood, provoke a blockage of blood vessels. Another factor is neoplasm in GM, a congenital tumor. Narrowing of the gaps is possible in the presence of atherosclerotic plaques.
How to help yourself at home?
Treatment with folk remedies for cerebral ischemia during an attack is ineffective and fraught with negative consequences. The patient needs urgent qualified support. In chronicles, along with the therapy recommended by the doctor, funds can be used on the advice of healers. True, the use of any prescriptions must be agreed with the doctor so that this practice does not conflict with the main course.
The most common option is long (at least three weeks) courses of using infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs. A good option is a combination of borago, nononea (2 parts each), dill seeds, mint leaves, motherwort, cinnamon (one part). Half a liter of water is boiled for a couple of spoons, mixed and allowed to warm for a couple of hours, after which the liquid is decanted. The drug is used as food in half a glass three times a day for half an hour before a meal.
Another option for herbal gathering involves equal amounts of Nonea, Creeper, hop cones, catnip, as well as the addition of birch foliage (twice as much as Nonei). A tablespoon requires a third of a liter of boiling water. The mixture is insisted for a couple of hours, drained and consumed in a couple of spoons half an hour before a meal. Frequency - four times daily.
During the course of treatment, it is necessary to regularly check the blood pressure and viscosity.