There are a lot of diseases leading to vascular damage. Almost all of them are accompanied by similar symptoms. To correctly diagnose and establish the correct treatment, a comprehensive diagnosis is required. Venous encephalopathy of the brain is recognized as a concomitant illness, since it is always a consequence of other disorders in the body. It occurs most often in old age, but can be diagnosed in young patients, sometimes even in children.
Disease characteristics
Venous encephalopathy is a pathological condition of cerebral vessels in which the outflow of venous blood is impaired. It develops due to the death of cells with a lack of nutrition and oxygen. The ailment always develops gradually, but is accompanied by brightly manifesting symptoms that cannot be ignored.
Based on long-term studies of the disease, it can be concluded that with timely diagnosis and correct treatment, venous encephalopathy is completely treatable. In extreme cases, regular monitoring of the development of pathology can significantly slow down the progression, and also allows the patient to maintain optimal conditions for a normal life.
Causes of the disease
The development of the disease is observed under the influence of many external factors. Insufficient brain nutrition occurs in patients experiencing severe stressful situations, workers in hazardous industries and with severe intoxication of the body.
Venous encephalopathy can occur in the presence of tumors in the brain of any nature, after serious head injuries, with a hereditary predisposition, the presence of chronic pulmonary diseases and blood stasis in the jugular veins, which is always accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure. An important reason for making such a diagnosis is the presence of atherosclerosis.
A risk group also includes people who often eat fatty foods, which contributes to the formation of cholesterol plaques and clogging of blood vessels.
Symptoms of ailment
Symptoms of venous encephalopathy are slightly different depending on the course of the disease. A chronic form of pathology can develop for a long time in the body, giving almost no signs, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. At this time, patients may experience only a slight decrease in mental activity and fatigue during intellectual activity. The sleep pattern is also disturbed: at night, patients suffer from insomnia, and during the day - drowsiness.
In acute form, venous encephalopathy is always accompanied by severe bursting headaches. They increase in the morning due to the long stay of the body in a horizontal position at night and almost completely disappear only in the evening. Inadequate blood circulation in the head leads to facial swelling, the appearance of a bluish skin tone, ringing in the ears and the appearance of flies in front of the eyes. Patients complain of hot flashes and cold, swelling throughout the body, sweating, cramps and heaviness in the back of the head.
At the initial stage of the development of pathology, attention should be paid to the appearance of the following symptoms:
- cognitive impairment;
- panic attacks;
- anxiety;
- emotionality;
- isolation or increased irritability;
- coughing up vomiting;
- nausea
- symptoms of vegetative dystonia.
Pathology diagnostics
Since many symptoms of the disease are similar to signs of other neurological disorders, correct diagnosis plays an important role in the further treatment of venous encephalopathy of the brain. Only an experienced specialist can prescribe the necessary examination and choose an effective therapy.
A preliminary diagnosis is always made after consultation with the doctor, but to confirm it, the doctor must prescribe a number of additional studies. For this, an examination is carried out by specialized specialists and instrumental diagnostics are carried out. The patient must visit an ophthalmologist for a detailed study of the fundus, the state of the retina and the measurement of intraocular pressure.
Very often, the disease is accompanied by other vascular pathologies or is part of venous discirculatory encephalopathy. Only a full examination helps to find out about all the nuances of the course of the disease. It includes MRI, ultrasound of the veins of the brain and neck or phlebography, as well as, if necessary, reovasoencephalography.
Drug treatment
Therapy of the disease is aimed not only at suppressing unpleasant symptoms, but also at eliminating the very cause of the disease. Only an integrated approach can alleviate the patient’s condition and return him to his usual life conditions in the future. Treatment of venous encephalopathy is carried out by drugs, the action of which is aimed at normalizing vascular tone. They are used in the form of injections or suppositories, which is due to the ability to provide the maximum therapeutic effect in a short time. Most often, experts recommend Detralex, Troxevasin, Phlebodia and Antistax.
A good result is given by treatment with medicines, the effect of which is to improve the blood supply to the nerve cells of the whole body. Among those, the most popular are:
- Trental;
- Cavinton
- "Tanakan."
Intracranial pressure is reduced by the addition of diuretics. If patients experience panic attacks or other nervous disorders, then they are eliminated by taking muscle relaxants. A common symptom of the disease is insomnia. To normalize sleep, sleeping pills are prescribed, for example, Donormil.
In rare cases, and only if treated in a hospital, tranquilizers can be prescribed to patients. Among them are "Phenazepam", "Grandaxin" and others.
Life mode
The acceleration of the treatment of venous encephalopathy of the brain is possible only due to the patient's daily regimen, proper nutrition and physical therapy. Exercises are selected individually by the doctor. Most often this is simple breathing exercises. During therapy, patients are strictly forbidden to take alcohol and smoke.
Only by eliminating unfavorable factors from life, you can maintain your health and avoid fainting conditions in the future.
Patients are advised not to make sudden movements while changing their position (getting out of bed or going to bed). You should also protect yourself from psycho-emotional shocks. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe acupuncture.
Folk remedies
You should not refuse from folk remedies in the treatment of the disease. Diuretic and sedative herbal preparations can significantly improve the patient's condition, thereby bringing the moment of recovery closer. It is also used in a pathological condition and a special diet enriched with vitamins and minerals, which contribute to the restoration of the body's natural forces. It is recommended to eat as many foods high in potassium and magnesium as possible.
Future forecasts
The consequences of the disease depend not only on compliance with all the doctor’s prescriptions, but also on the timeliness of a correct diagnosis. If the disease was noticed in the initial stages, then competent treatment will certainly give a positive result.
If the pathology was discovered at a late stage, then the disease will lead to irreversible disorders of the nervous system.
Venous encephalopathy is a serious disease that somehow affects the further quality of life of the patient. In order to avoid serious disorders in the brain and maintain relative performance in the future, you should seek medical help in a timely manner if any signs of pathology are detected. This is the only way to maintain a full life and avoid undesirable consequences.