Microstroke: symptoms and causes of development

Every second person in the world knows perfectly well that a stroke is a dangerous disease. But often among patients and doctors one can meet another term - microstroke, but few people know what it means. How to recognize the symptoms of a microstroke, what causes its development, what treatment and prevention is required?

What is a microstroke?

A microstroke is a necrosis of brain tissue provoked by the presence of a blood clot or a sharp narrowing of a small vessel. Often confused with a transient ischemic attack, when the nutrition of brain cells deteriorates, which leads to the temporary onset of symptoms of neurological brain disorders. But an attack is a reversible process, and it never leads to necrosis. Its duration can be several minutes or a whole day. With a micro stroke, necrotic changes are minimal, but they are, and there is no reverse process, although after therapy the patient can easily compensate and recover.

To a greater extent, an ischemic attack occurs due to the presence of a blood clot, which provokes a temporary restriction in blood circulation in a certain part of the brain, but, as a rule, only small vessels are prone to stagnation. After the blood flow is normalized, the signs and symptoms of a microstroke, namely the patient’s condition indicates them, disappear. A true stroke affects a vessel or several of them, and they remain blocked.

In fact, stroke and microstroke are one and the same thing, but only in the latter case, damage to the small vessels of the brain is less noticeable, therefore, recovery is faster.

A microstroke is insidious that a person may not even notice what happened in his body, but this is the first signal warning that a stroke may happen very soon.

The first symptoms of a microstroke can be detected during a pathological examination.

Types of pathology

Depending on the pathogenetic mechanism, doctors divide a microstroke into two main types:

• Ischemic, it is based on vasospasm or thrombosis, which ultimately leads to malnutrition of the brain tissue and provokes cell death.
• Hemorrhagic. It comes at a time when the vessels of the brain rupture, which leads to hemorrhage in the intercellular space and compression of nearby tissues.

Who is more at risk?

Before you understand the treatment, signs and symptoms of a microstroke, you need to know which of the people is more at risk. Recognizing the symptoms and distinguishing the disease from any other ailment is quite simple, if only to know that the patient is at high risk. More often micro strokes are found in the fair half of humanity, an average of 8% more than in men. Vessels are affected more often in such groups:

• people with hypertension, angina pectoris and abnormalities in blood pressure, which are recorded in the anamnesis;
  
• patients in whose family were relatives who had a microstroke or stroke;
• patients with thrombotic abnormalities;
• patients with diabetes, prone to frequent fluctuations in blood sugar;
• overweight patients who do not control their diet;
• people with impaired blood flow in the brain, including those with congenital abnormalities, who have suffered a hypertensive crisis, ischemic stroke;
• drug abusers.

In some cases, frequent fluctuations in blood pressure can cause symptoms of microstroke.

Causes and predisposing factors of pathology

The causes and risk factors are no different from a real stroke. The disease can be caused by:

• Atherosclerotic vascular lesions. Atherosclerosis is a systemic ailment, if a patient suffers from coronary heart disease, then he must have cholesterol plaques in the vessels of the brain.
• Hypertension and frequent hypertensive crises.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system (congenital heart defects, atrial fibrillation, myocarditis, arrhythmia, blockade and others).
• Compression of arteries from the outside: a tumor, a hernia of the cervical spine, stratification of the arteries, aneurysm, vascular spasm.
• Inflammation of the arteries of the brain of an infectious or autoimmune nature.
• Congenital pathologies of the brain.

Increase the risk: taking contraceptives, frequent migraine attacks, smoking, blood-related diseases, varicose veins, overweight.

A common cause of the symptoms of stroke and microstroke is hypertension. Know the causes of the development of the disease should every person who wants to prevent the development of the disease.

The first symptoms of a microstroke

The first signs vary in a wide range, it all depends on how extensive the location of the lesion of the arterial vessel, as well as on the mechanism of development of disorders: blood clot, spasm, squeezing, malfunctioning blood circulation. In some cases, a person may not even suspect that he had a micro stroke. Symptoms can be confused with other diseases, for example, the head is spinning and sore, the hand goes numb and tingling, blurred vision, muscle weakness.

But most often, violations develop so quickly that they cannot be overlooked. They have a pronounced character and are similar to the symptoms of a real stroke:

• sharp numbness of any part of the body, most often it is limbs, crawling sensation;
• sharp weakness in the muscles of the legs or arms;
• loss of sensation of a certain part of the body;
• severe headache, high blood pressure, dizziness;
  
• sudden visual impairment;
• paralysis of the limb;
• omission of the corners of the mouth, there is no way to smile;
• speech impairment;
• vomiting, nausea, cramps, confused consciousness.

If at least one of the symptoms of a microstroke described above is found in women (as in men), then it is urgent to seek qualified help. After all, all these signs can be evidence of both a stroke and a microstroke.

The main symptoms of the disease

The first symptoms of a microstroke and stroke in women and men are similar, therefore, if the ailments described below appear, you should immediately call an ambulance and, if possible, take a lying position, slightly raising your head, put a cold towel on your forehead and put more fresh air into the room. The main features include:

• numbness of the face, legs and arms;
• sharp intense pain in the head and dizziness;
• a sharp increase in blood pressure;
• lack of coordination;
• special sensitivity to loud sounds and bright light.

Additionally, other symptoms of microstroke can be observed in men and women:

• general weakness, drowsiness, stupor;
• short-term loss of consciousness, but not necessary;
  
• temporary visual impairment;
• problems with speech and understanding of what is happening around.

If only part of the described symptoms is manifested, then you need to call a doctor.

Microstrokes do not pass without a trace: several even the smallest disturbances in the bloodstream of the brain can provoke a suppression of intellectual functions up to dementia.

How to identify home signs of a stroke?

It is very important when a person can independently determine at home that the first signs and first symptoms of a microstroke are observed in a loved one. In men and women, diagnostic measures should be carried out at home, for this it is necessary to conduct such tests:

1. Smile. If you ask the patient to smile, then the asymmetry of the mouth is noticeable - one of the corners of the lips will be lower.
2. Speech. The patient must be asked to say a few phrases, for example, to tell a proverb or a saying, he will speak slowly and fuzzy.
3. Movement. The patient should be asked to raise his arms or legs. If there are circulatory disorders in the brain, one of the limbs will lag behind the other or will not listen to the owner at all.

These simple tests can save a person’s life, because it is the first minutes after a micro stroke that are important.

Diagnostic methods

Transient blood flow disorders in the brain occur so quickly that sometimes the doctor just does not have time to examine the patient, for this reason the diagnosis is made retrospectively, based only on a patient’s survey. But some examinations are still recommended to be done even after the attack has passed. Much depends on which zone of blood vessels and arteries was affected. So, for example, if most of the lesion is localized in the pool of the vertebral artery, then it is recommended to undergo such studies:

• MRI
  
• CT of vessels with a contrast agent;
• X-ray of the cervical spine;
• CT scan of the brain as a whole.

All these techniques allow you to identify a microstroke. Regardless of whether the attack has passed or not, it is necessary to undergo an examination without fail. This is important in order to make an accurate diagnosis, find out the cause of this condition, prescribe the right treatment and protect the patient from negative consequences.

Therapeutic methods: basic rules

When the first symptoms of a microstroke in men have passed, it is important to do everything possible to restore blood circulation in the site of hemorrhage and to normalize all brain functions. Such drugs will help to solve such a problem:

• "Instenon" or "Pentoxifylline", which help expand the lumen of the vessels.
• Also, one can not do without antiplatelet agents: Aspirin Cardio, Ticlopidine, Dipyridamole.
• "Piracetam" or "Cinnarizine" will be required in order to improve concentration and memory.
• Angioprotectors, such as Nimodipine or Bilobil, cannot be dispensed with.
• The patient will also need metabolic drugs: Actovegin and Mexidol.

Subsequently, the doctor after a micro stroke recommends breathing exercises, massage, physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy. It is also important to constantly be monitored by a specialist, combine rest and work, moderate physical activity, proper nutrition, refuse to drink alcohol and smoke. Other methods of treatment will not bring harm, such as traditional medicine.

Traditional medicine in the treatment of microstroke

When the attack has passed, and the first symptoms of a microstroke in women (or men) have become less pronounced, you can begin to strengthen the body by restoring strength and resistance to risk factors using folk remedies. Bay leaf, marin root and mummy help a lot.

For treatment with marin root, tincture is prepared, for this it is necessary to take a pinch of raw material and pour a glass of boiling water. Take it three times a day for 1/4 cup before each meal.

Dilute a small piece of mummy in a spoon of water and drink it. This small dose can restore the body after a micro stroke.

Special oil very well copes with the symptoms of microstroke in women. And they cook it like this: carefully bay leaf, pour unrefined vegetable oil and insist for 7 days in a dark place. After that, it is necessary to lubricate the places affected by the micro stroke.

For quick and effective recovery, use sage, white mistletoe and Japanese sophora. It is these plants that help a person to return to its previous course and live a full life. Traditional medicine will give a good effect only if two courses are conducted, and there is a break between them. You can prepare healing broths like this:

• Mix Sophora and mistletoe in equal amounts and pour two glasses of vodka. The resulting mixture was left in a dark place for 30 days, periodically shaking. After a month of insisting, the drug is taken 1 dessert spoon twice a day for 24 days. You need to take a break of half a month, and then repeat the course.
• It is necessary to treat the first symptoms and signs of a microstroke at home with the restoration of speech, for this they take tincture of sage. To prepare it, take the leaves of the drug and pour a glass of boiling water, bring to a boil. Drink broth for a month in small sips in the morning.
  

During the treatment of a patient with a microstroke, it is necessary to protect him in every possible way from stressful situations, mood swings and nervous shocks.

What consequences await the patient after a microstroke?

Very often, after a circulatory disturbance in the brain, the consequences are noticeable:

• memory worsens;
• significantly reduced concentration;
• the patient becomes distracted;
• irritability increases;
• often depressed;
  
• tearfulness or, conversely, aggression.

Often, patients within three days after a point outflow of blood have a serious ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

How to prevent a micro stroke?

If you are at risk, then you need to think about how to protect yourself from a micro stroke. To do this, it is advisable to adhere to such rules:

1. Regularly measure blood pressure.
2. It is advisable to have a special diary in which to record morning and evening measurements.
3. Completely change the diet, try to exclude everything fatty, smoked and salty from it. It is a salt-free diet that helps lower blood pressure. Add more fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and beans to your diet.
4. No alcohol or smoking.
5. You need to learn how to organize work and leisure.
6. Watch your health closely, regularly monitored by a doctor.

A microstroke is a serious and dangerous disease that disrupts the brain, and it is responsible for the functions of the whole organism. It is necessary to treat the disease immediately and be sure to follow all the doctor's recommendations, only in this case can complications be avoided.