Vascular narrowing in the brain is a very serious pathological disorder. It fully depends on the individual characteristics of the body and requires a special approach in the study of causes and symptoms for the appointment of treatment.
Mechanism of occurrence
A substance without which the normal functioning of all vital organs is impossible, cholesterol is considered, which is involved in the construction of new tissues and metabolism, and is also the main source of antioxidants. Cholesterol is produced by the liver, but a substantial part of this substance is ingested with food. Cholesterol is divided into high and low density lipoproteins.
The structure of high density lipoprotein resembles wax and is a viscous and sticky substance that can settle on the walls of the inner surface of blood vessels. Gradually, calcium molecules attach to it, due to the properties of which the formed atherosclerotic plaque begins to harden.
Every day, when lipoproteins enter the body on the cholesterol plaque, more and more new layers are deposited, as a result of which it gradually increases in size. The lumen of the vessel, in turn, begins to decrease, which leads to disruption of blood circulation, thinning of its walls, loss of elasticity and mobility of the vessel.
A decrease in elasticity gradually leads to the formation of microcracks, and a violation of blood flow leads to the accumulation of blood components in damage. In this way, a thrombus is formed, which is a blood clot, which, in addition to exacerbating the developing pathology, also poses a certain additional danger, which lies in the fact that the thrombus may break away from the walls of the vessel. If it comes off and enters the general bloodstream, it can clog any vital vessel. This phenomenon often causes the death of patients suffering from atherosclerosis of the vascular system.
Causes of pathology
Vascular narrowing in the brain most often occurs in older people. The reason is a gradual decrease in the elasticity of arterial walls and, as a result, circulatory disturbance. In the high-risk area is a certain category of young people whose lifestyle is accompanied by excessive overwork, high physical and psycho-emotional stress.
This disease has three main causes.
Atherosclerosis
This pathological process is the first cause of narrowing of the vessels that feed the brain. The disease is characterized by the formation of a large number of cholesterol plaques in the vessels of the brain. With atherosclerosis, the largest arteries are affected - the vertebral and internal carotid.
The main causes of atherosclerosis are:
- Uncontrolled eating of high-density cholesterol.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Obesity.
- Lack of exercise.
- Excessive drinking and tobacco dependence.
- Lack of certain plant fibers and seafood in the diet.
It is generally accepted that atherosclerosis is an age-related disease, but this is not so. To a certain extent, even children are exposed to it. The onset of the first symptoms in a child may appear by ten years, and by about fifteen, the formation of cholesterol plaques begins. The main causes are malnutrition, inactivity, as well as some concomitant diseases of a chronic nature.
Hypertension
An increase in blood pressure also causes a narrowing of the vessels of the brain. It is less common, but no less dangerous. Hypertension is characterized by constant jumps in blood pressure, which inevitably leads to thinning of the walls of the blood vessels of the brain and their loss of elasticity. This creates a very favorable environment for the formation of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The area of the cervical spine is saturated with numerous blood vessels, which are designed to supply blood to the brain. If there are signs of osteochondrosis of the neck, a gradual deformation of the intervertebral cartilaginous structures occurs, which compress the main vessels - in this case, the vertebral arteries play their role. Initially, a narrowing of blood vessels occurs in the cervical region, which disrupts the flow of blood to the cerebral cortex and inevitably leads to the loss of their functionality by these arteries.
What else can cause a narrowing of the vessels of the brain?
Developmental abnormalities
In some cases, there are malformations of the blood vessels of the brain, which are most often hereditary or congenital in nature. Such violations are treated exclusively by operational methods and pose a serious threat to the patient from early childhood.
A pathological disorder in the form of a narrowing of blood vessels localized in the brain can occur for one of three reasons. In certain cases, a complex development of several of these diseases can be observed at once. In such situations, the clinical picture is characterized by very serious complications that inevitably lead the patient to disability and have numerous cases of death. These factors indicate that it is necessary to treat each disease individually when the very first signs that indicate the development of a serious disease occur.
The treatment of narrowing of the vessels of the brain depends on the cause and stage.
Stages of the disease and their characteristic symptoms
Two main forms of the disease are distinguished:
- The acute form in which there is a sharp narrowing of the lumen of the vessels, which often causes the development of a stroke. In general, chronic forms of certain pathological processes that occur in the vascular system of the body lead to such diseases. In this case, the patient needs urgent medical care, without which a rapid lethal outcome is possible. But the symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the brain can be mild. What does this mean?
- The chronic form, characterized by a prolonged course of the disease, to the symptoms of which the patient gradually adapts and does not feel much discomfort. Such a course leads to the fact that people seek medical help only at the last, already complicated stages, when symptoms significantly reduce their quality of life. Consider the symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the brain in more detail.
The first stage of narrowing
The pathological process begins with some minor disturbances, the symptoms of which in most cases are perceived as the influence of magnetic storms, overwork, excessive load, or the consequences of a stressful situation. Over time, the body adapts to many manifestations and gradually ceases to adequately respond to them.
In this period of the process, there is a sharp decrease in memory, loss of emotional stability and the appearance of periodic headaches. If the resulting disorder is not treated, the pathological process begins to proceed to the next stage.
Symptoms of narrowing of the vessels of the brain in the second stage are somewhat different.
Second stage of narrowing
This stage is characterized by a significant deterioration in the general condition of a person and already more pronounced symptoms. At this stage, the patient is accompanied by migraines, sudden mood changes, which often turn into acute depressive states. The lack of normal blood supply to the brain provokes changes in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, which often leads to impaired coordination of movements, the main symptom of which is a shuffling and unstable gait.
In addition, there is a violation of the functions of the urinary system, which manifests itself in the form of a false urge to urinate. This leads to a significant decrease in mood and performance.
Symptoms of vasoconstriction should not go unnoticed.
Third stage of narrowing
At this stage, serious coordination problems are observed, the patient can constantly lose balance. He is practically unable to do without the people accompanying him. In some cases, complete atrophy of the musculoskeletal system is noted. The functions of organs located in the pelvis are also impaired, urination goes out of control. A person suffers from memory lapses, his speech becomes incoherent, there is a constant distortion of words, which is often regarded as a sign of dementia.
In most cases, the last stage of this disease is no longer amenable to therapy, and many changes in the structures of the brain become irreversible.
Parents of children who have suffered a birth injury, vasculitis, with congenital insufficiency of the cardiovascular system and kidney disease, need to carefully monitor the state of the vessels of the brain of the child. Very common symptoms of vasoconstriction in children are dizziness, nausea, and frequent headaches. Visit a specialist and begin treatment of blood vessels as soon as possible, otherwise the fatal consequences of physical and mental development in a child may develop.
With symptoms of vasoconstriction, treatment should be immediate.
Diagnostics
In some cases, external symptoms and anamnesis based on a detailed survey of the patient are enough to diagnose the disease. For a more accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive examination can be prescribed, which will accurately determine the affected area, as well as identify the cause of the pathology and prescribe treatment. Moreover, the patient’s state of health should be closely monitored by the attending physician.
The complex of diagnostic measures includes the following:
- Analysis of reflexes, checking the functionality of the vestibular apparatus and assessment of indicators of mental activity. Additionally, a conversation can be held with the patient's relatives, which will help to give a full assessment of his behavior in everyday life.
- Dopplerography, which is an ultrasound test method using a special apparatus. In this case, a three-dimensional picture of the anatomical structure of the vessels of the brain is outlined, the localization of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques is precisely determined, the patency of the vessels and the blood flow velocity in them are estimated.
- Computer angiography. Using this method, you can visualize detailed images of the layers of the brain, which allows you to most fully examine all the arteries that supply blood to the brain.
Pathology treatment
After determining the diagnosis of vasoconstriction in the brain, therapy is prescribed depending on the cause of the disease. Comprehensive treatment is prescribed by a therapist, neurologist and cardiologist and depends on individual clinical symptoms.
Drug therapy
The main methods of treating cerebral vasoconstriction are to eliminate the cause - the formation of cholesterol plaques, reduce pressure or eliminate cervical osteochondrosis.
The main drugs here are:
- Statins - drugs in this group reduce cholesterol production and destroy atherosclerotic plaques. Such medicines as Mefacor, Actalipid, Mevacor and others are used.
- Fibrates, which are characterized by the fact that they are able to break down cholesterol and reduce the level of its formation. The most popular drugs in this case are Clofibrate and Atromid. What else is used in the treatment of vasoconstriction?
- Vasodilating drugs that reduce the tone of blood vessels, which helps to increase their lumen and normalize blood flow. The most commonly prescribed vasodilator drugs are Eufillin and Papaverine.
- If the cause of the pathology is hypertension, then the main treatment is carried out by a set of measures to regulate pressure.
- With osteochondrosis, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors are used. The treatment of narrowing of the head vessels with manual therapy and acupuncture is supplemented.
In parallel, symptomatic therapy is carried out, which includes eliminating pain during migraines, taking antidepressants to relieve nervousness, prescribing iodine-containing drugs, as well as vitamin complexes.
Surgery
Surgical therapy is used in the absence of effect after medication or in severe cases when the violation threatens the life of a person. Surgery also fights against congenital malformations of the brain vessels.