Poor blood circulation to the brain symptoms. How to treat cerebrovascular accident? Exercises and gymnastics

Cerebral circulation refers to blood circulation in the vessels that supply the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord.

Nowadays, various types of pathologies of cerebral circulation are diagnosed more and more often, which is associated with a number of reasons. This includes poor ecology, bad habits, poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle and genetically determined diseases.

Table of contents:

Why do cerebrovascular accidents develop?

The immediate causes due to which the flow of blood to the central nervous system organs is disrupted include:

  • kinks of blood vessels;
  • significant narrowing of the lumen of the arteries;
  • (blockage of the lumen by a thrombus);
  • embolism;
  • aneurysms.

One of the leading reasons leading to hemorrhage into the brain tissue and the formation of a hematoma is a significant increase in blood pressure. With a sharp jump in blood pressure, a blood vessel may rupture.

Somewhat less common in clinical practice is the rupture of an arterial aneurysm - a protrusion on the vascular wall, devoid of a powerful elastic and muscular basis. Even a relatively small increase in blood pressure against the background of minor physical activity or psycho-emotional stress may well cause a rupture of a pathologically altered section of the vessel wall.

Note:if the aneurysm is localized in a vessel of the lining of the brain, then not intracerebral, but subarachnoid hemorrhage develops.

Blockage of the great vessels usually results from the separation of a blood clot or infiltrate that forms on the heart valves during inflammation. Emboli with the blood flow migrate to the cerebral vessels and clog the one whose lumen diameter is smaller than the diameter of the thrombus. An embolus may be a fragment. Blockage of the vessel leads to the fact that the supply of the brain area is stopped. In such cases, it is customary to talk about the embolic mechanism of ischemic development.

A thrombus can gradually form directly in a cerebral vessel in close proximity to an atherosclerotic plaque. Gradually, the plaque fills the lumen, which causes blood flow to slow down. The vessel wall in the area of ​​atherosclerotic lesions has an uneven surface, which additionally promotes platelet aggregation. The combination of local factors with a slowdown in blood flow becomes the cause of vessel thrombosis with the subsequent development of cerebrovascular accidents in the form of ischemic stroke.

The blood supply to the brain is often disrupted due to spasm of the muscles of the vascular walls.

Complete blockage of the main vessel is not a prerequisite for the development of cerebral infarction. In some cases, for insufficient blood flow to a certain area, a bend in the vessel is sufficient.

The mechanism of development of cerebral circulatory disorders in the form of transient ischemic attacks (“”) is similar to the mechanism of ischemic stroke, but in the first case, compensatory mechanisms work adequately within a few hours.

Symptoms of cerebrovascular accident

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Depending on the individual characteristics of the patient, his age, the area that is fed by the affected vessel, as well as the mechanism and severity of the process, pathological changes in the tissues vary. Accordingly, clinical symptoms may vary.

According to the accepted classification, all morphological changes are divided into diffuse and focal.

Focal cerebrovascular accidents:

  • ischemic stroke;
  • hemorrhagic stroke:
  • subarachnoid hemorrhages.

Important:Doctors often call ischemic stroke a “cerebral infarction.”

Diffuse cerebrovascular accidents:

  • small necrotic foci;
  • small focal changes in the substance;
  • small hemorrhages (single and multiple);
  • small cystic formations;
  • gliomesodermal scar changes.

With pathologies of cerebral circulation, the patient often has only subjective signs, which include:

  • varying intensity;
  • dizziness;
  • disturbances of sensitivity of various localizations.

Objective neurological symptoms may not be detected.

Local dysfunction of the sensory organs, the development of organic symptoms with preservation of central nervous system functions, motor disorders (for example, hyperkinesis or paralysis), epileptoform seizures, and disorders of memory or cognitive functions are also possible.

According to the nature of development, all pathologies in this category are divided into:

  • slowly progressing (dyscirculatory encephalo- or myelopathy);
  • initial (transient ischemic attacks and hypertensive crises);
  • acute (stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage).

Note:Transient ischemic attacks are often called “micro-strokes” by both people who are far from medicine and medical practitioners.

Signs of chronic, slowly progressive disorders

Discirculatory encephalopathy is a pathology characterized by gradual progression. It is caused by disorders of the cerebral vessels. With this disease, focal structural changes are formed in the subcortical areas.

General clinical signs of dyscirculatory encephalopathy:

  • severe headaches;
  • increased irritability;
  • occasional dizziness;
  • decreased ability to remember;
  • coordination problems;
  • absent-mindedness;

Discirculatory encephalopathy develops gradually; There are 3 successive stages.


Discirculatory myelopathy, which is caused by circulatory disorders in the spinal cord, also progresses gradually.

Symptoms of discirculatory myelopathy

Discirculatory myelopathy is a lesion of the spinal cord of vascular origin, manifested in the form of pelvic disorders, sensory disturbances, and various paresis. It also progresses gradually.

Disorders of spinal cerebral circulation usually occur in the form of:

  • Personage-Turner syndrome, in which discirculation occurs in the area of ​​the cervicobrachial arteries, which leads to paresis of the arm muscles and pain in the cervicobrachial area.
  • Preobrazhensky syndrome, characterized by dyscirculatory disorders in the area of ​​the anterior spinal artery

The development of this type of cerebrovascular accident includes 3 stages:

  • compensated;
  • subcompensated;
  • decompensated.

At the initial stage, the patient is characterized by increased fatigue or weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs. In the second stage, pathological changes become more noticeable, impaired reflexes and paresthesia occur. The decompensated stage is characterized by the appearance of disorders of the pelvic organs (stool and urine retention), as well as the development of paresis of various localizations and paralysis.

Symptoms of initial cerebrovascular insufficiency

Initial signs of cerebral circulatory failure usually develop against a background of mental or physical stress or exposure to unfavorable conditions (lack of oxygen or high room temperature).

The main signs of initial failure include:


The appearance of such clinical signs of cerebral circulatory disorders is the basis for a comprehensive medical examination in order to identify possible atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels, arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), as well as vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Transient disturbances of cerebral blood supply are characterized by general cerebral or focal signs that persist for no more than 24 hours.

Transient ischemic attacks are transient disorders of cerebral circulation caused by insufficient blood flow to certain areas of the central nervous system.

Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks:

  • speech disorders;
  • problems with coordination of movements and statics;
  • double vision;
  • flashing “flies” before the eyes;
  • paresthesia (impaired sensitivity of the limbs);
  • feeling of weakness.

Important:If you notice that your friend or colleague does not answer correctly, drops objects or moves unsteadily, he probably needs urgent medical attention. Many signs of “micro-strokes” are similar to those of alcohol intoxication.

Leading to circulatory disorders in the brain, caused by an abrupt increase in blood pressure.

Symptoms of hypertensive cerebral crises:

  • intense headache;
  • feeling of nausea;
  • (not always);
  • dizziness.

If typical neurological symptoms in a patient are detected for more than 24 hours, a diagnosis of “stroke” is made, i.e. we are talking about an acute cerebrovascular accident.

Signs of acute disorders

The symptoms of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, thrombosis of the venous sinuses, as well as venous hemorrhages are similar to the clinic of transient cerebrovascular accidents, but neurological symptoms are diagnosed within a day or more.

Important:In most cases, strokes occur early in the morning or late at night. A patient suspected of having this acute circulatory disorder often requires hospitalization and placement in a neurointensive care unit.

Ischemic strokes are caused by a cessation of blood flow to parts of the brain due to blockage or sudden spasm of blood vessels.

Hemorrhagic is caused by bleeding into the brain tissue when the integrity of the vascular wall is violated.

Ischemic changes increase gradually, over several hours (in some cases, up to a day). Hemorrhagic stroke develops almost instantly. With it, the patient experiences intense headache and loss of consciousness.

Important:Any stroke is characterized by serious sensory impairment and paralysis, often unilateral. With a lesion localized in the right hemisphere, the left side of the body suffers and vice versa. The patient usually develops visual and articulation disturbances.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage develops against the background of rupture of an aneurysm of the arachnoid vessels. It is usually not accompanied by the appearance of neurological symptoms. A characteristic symptom is an intense headache of a “dagger” nature and loss of consciousness.

Damage to the main arteries, venous and jugular veins, due to the development of thrombosis, embolism, aneurysms, etc. leads to serious oxygen deficiency, tissue death and loss of certain vital functions for the body. Poor blood circulation in the brain is a serious pathology that requires urgent treatment.

Features of blood supply to the brain

According to the most rough estimates, the human brain contains about 25 billion nerve cells. There is a hard and soft shell, gray and white matter.

Signs of circulatory problems in the head

Initially, symptoms of poor circulation are of low intensity or not observed at all. But as the disorders develop, clinical manifestations become more and more obvious.

  • Headaches - improvement occurs only after taking analgesics. The pain syndrome tends to increase.

Such violations, as a rule, indicate a number of problems. A doctor's visit is required.

Causes of obstructed blood supply to the brain

The anatomy of the blood supply has a complex structure. Transport of oxygen and other nutrients is carried out through four arteries: vertebral and internal.

  • Vascular atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of impaired blood supply in older people, as well as patients with disorders of the cardiovascular system and metabolic disorders. Sclerotic plaques appear in the arteries, leading to a decrease in blood circulation.

Whatever the cause of circulatory failure, the consequences of the disorders are reflected not only in the activity of the brain itself, but also in the functioning of the internal organs. The result of therapy is influenced by the accuracy of the identified cause - the catalyst and the timely elimination of violations.

What are the dangers of poor blood flow problems in the brain?

A sharp disruption of the blood circulation in the brain leads to serious complications. The consequences of an attack can be:

  • Ischemic stroke – accompanied by nausea and vomiting. With focal damage, it affects the functioning of individual internal organs. Affects motor and speech function.

A transient attack is observed mainly in elderly patients. The attack is accompanied by impaired motor and visual function, numbness and paralysis of the limbs, drowsiness and other symptoms.

Depletion of peripheral blood flow is most often observed in the old age of the patient and leads to the development of chronic insufficiency of blood supply to the brain. As a result, the patient's mental activity is inhibited. A decrease in intelligence and abilities is diagnosed. The pathology is accompanied by absent-mindedness, irritability, and extremely aggressive behavior.

Cerebral blood flow disorders in children

For children, the minimum blood flow in the arteries sufficient for normal brain function is 50% higher than for adults. For every 100 gr. brain tissue requires about 75 ml. blood per minute.

  • The middle cerebral artery supplies blood to the deep parts of the brain and the eyeball. The internal one is responsible for nourishing the cervical region, scalp and face.

In fact, cerebral blood flow is a special system for circulating blood and transferring nutrients and oxygen to brain tissue. The system contains the carotid, cerebral and vertebral arteries, as well as the jugular veins and the blood-brain barrier. The blood supply areas of the cerebral arteries are distributed in such a way as to abundantly supply each area of ​​soft tissue with oxygen.

Why do newborns have problems with blood supply to the brain?

Among the many reasons due to which disturbances in the blood supply to the brain develop, only two main ones can be identified:

  • Disturbances in fetal development - intrauterine pathologies are observed in 10% of all pregnancies. Insufficient blood supply is a consequence of injuries, infectious diseases, bad habits of the expectant mother, and incompatibility of the Rh factor of the mother and fetus. Another catalyst for deficiency is genetic predisposition.

Why is impaired blood supply to the head dangerous for a baby?

For the normal development of a child, the volume of incoming blood in relation to brain tissue is required to be 50% greater than that of an adult. Deviations from the norm affect mental development.

  1. Poor concentration.

Treatment of cerebral circulation begins from the first days of life. There is a possibility of death. Hypoxia negatively affects the functionality of the brain and internal organs.

How to check the blood supply to the brain

Suspicions of insufficient blood supply to brain tissue arise in the presence of neurological symptoms and disorders. To determine the factors of damage and prescribe the necessary therapy, additional examination is carried out using instrumental methods for studying blood circulation:

  • MRI – allows you to determine the condition of brain tissue and assess the extent of damage to individual lobes. Magnetic resonance angiography is considered the most informative, allowing one to see the condition of the membranes and nerve trunks.

How and how to improve cerebral circulation

Based on the results of a diagnostic study, medications are selected that improve cerebral circulation. Since the cause of disorders is a variety of factors, the course of therapy for one patient may not coincide with what is prescribed for another patient.

What improves blood circulation, what medications

There is no one medicine to improve blood circulation in the brain that can eliminate disorders. For any deviation, a course of therapy is prescribed, including one or more drugs from the following groups:

  • Vasodilators - act on the smooth muscles of blood arteries and vessels, have a relaxing effect and increase the lumen. It has been noted that some medications have the opposite effect and impair blood supply, so modern methods of therapy use exclusively drugs that affect the vessels located in the brain (Cinnarizine, Nimodipine).

Some drugs have a special purpose. Thus, Cortexin, in the form of intramuscular injections, is recommended for use during pregnancy and after the birth of a child with pronounced encephalopathy. Emoxipine is used for internal bleeding. Available in the form of intravenous injections.

How to improve blood flow without drugs

At the initial stage, it is possible to improve blood supply to the brain without the help of medications. There are several ways to influence a person’s well-being:

  • Ayurvedic remedies are essentially extracts from herbs and other plants that contribute to the overall strengthening of the body. The difference between Ayurveda preparations is that the treatment complex was developed in India, a country known for its long-livers and unique healing methods by restoring the balance of the body. The range of products includes tablets, medicinal teas and other products.

It would be useful to include in your therapy the intake of vitamins E and C, which increase blood flow, and also to visit a nutritionist in order to select an effective therapeutic diet.

Folk remedies for improving blood supply to the brain

Treatment of cerebral circulatory disorders with folk remedies does not eliminate the need to receive professional medical care. Non-traditional methods of therapy are good at relieving symptoms of disorders:

  • Noise in the head and dizziness - red clover tincture will help. Pour in vodka so that the liquid covers the flowers a little. Clover is infused for 3 weeks. Take 1-2 teaspoons before meals and at night.

Breathing exercises to improve blood circulation

The set of exercises is aimed at enriching the blood with oxygen. There are several types of breathing exercises.

Exercises and gymnastics

Exercise therapy to improve the patient’s well-being is aimed at the source-catalyst of the problem. During exercise, blood pressure and the functioning of the cardiovascular system are normalized.

Caution when prescribing exercises should be observed in the presence of blood clots or high blood pressure.

Diet for poor cerebral circulation

We are what we eat! Life itself proves the truth of this statement. A person’s diet and eating habits have a negative or positive effect on the blood supply to the brain.

What foods improve blood flow

Products that improve blood counts include:

The diet should include herbal remedies that improve blood circulation: oils (sunflower and olive). Plant foods and foods containing zinc are also necessary to restore blood supply.

Foods that are harmful to the blood supply to the brain

If your blood circulation is poor, you should avoid foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids.

A complete list of harmful and beneficial products can be obtained from a neurologist who treats disorders of the blood supply to the brain.

Alcohol and cerebral circulation

Moderate doses of alcohol have a beneficial effect on the blood supply to the brain, preventing blockage of blood vessels. We are talking about small or moderate portions.

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Disorders of arterial circulation of the brain: forms, signs, treatment

In recent years, the percentage of mortality from pathological lesions of cerebral vessels, which were previously associated with the aging of the body and were diagnosed only in elderly people (after 60 years), has increased significantly. Today, the symptoms of cerebrovascular accident have become younger. And people under 40 often die from strokes. Therefore, it is important to know the causes and mechanism of their development so that preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures give the most effective results.

What are cerebrovascular accidents (CVA)

The vessels of the brain have a unique, perfect structure that ideally regulates blood flow, ensuring the stability of blood circulation. They are designed in such a way that while the flow of blood into the coronary vessels increases approximately 10 times during physical activity, the amount of circulating blood in the brain, with an increase in mental activity, remains at the same level. That is, a redistribution of blood flow occurs. Some of the blood from parts of the brain with less load is redirected to areas with increased brain activity.

However, this perfect circulatory process is disrupted if the amount of blood entering the brain does not satisfy its need for it. It should be noted that its redistribution across brain regions is necessary not only for its normal functionality. It also occurs when various pathologies occur, for example, stenosis of the lumen of the vessel (narrowing) or obstruction (closure). As a result of impaired self-regulation, the speed of blood flow slows down in certain areas of the brain and ischemicity occurs.

Types of MC violations

There are the following categories of blood flow disorders in the brain:

  1. Acute (stroke), which occurs suddenly with a long course, and transient, the main symptoms of which (visual impairment, loss of speech, etc.) last no more than a day.
  2. Chronic, caused by discirculatory encephalopathies. They are divided into two types: hypertensive in origin and caused by atherosclerosis.

Acute cerebrovascular accidents (ACI)

Acute cerebrovascular accident causes persistent disorders of brain activity. It comes in two types: hemorrhagic (bleeding) and ischemic (also called cerebral infarction).

Hemorrhagic

Etiology

Hemorrhage (hemorrhagic disturbance of blood flow) can be caused by various arterial hypertension, vascular aneurysms, congenital angiomas, etc.

Pathogenesis

As a result of an increase in blood pressure, plasma and the proteins contained in it are released, which leads to plasma saturation of the walls of blood vessels, causing their destruction. A peculiar hyaline-like specific substance (a protein whose structure resembles cartilage) is deposited on the vascular walls, which leads to the development of hyalinosis. The vessels resemble glass tubes and lose their elasticity and ability to hold blood pressure. In addition, the permeability of the vascular wall increases and blood can freely pass through it, soaking the nerve fibers (diapedetic bleeding). The result of such transformations can be the formation of microaneurysms and rupture of the vessel with hemorrhage and blood entering the white medulla. Thus, hemorrhage occurs as a result of:

  • Plasmic impregnation of the walls of blood vessels of the white medulla or visual thalamus;
  • Diapedetic bleeding;
  • Microaneurysm formations.

Hemorrhage in the acute period is characterized by the development of hematomas due to wedging and deformation of the brain stem into the tentorial foramen. In this case, the brain swells and extensive edema develops. Secondary hemorrhages occur, smaller ones.

Clinical manifestations

Usually occurs during the day, during physical activity. Suddenly your head starts to hurt and you feel nauseous. Consciousness is confused, the person breathes quickly and whistling, tachycardia occurs, accompanied by hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis of the limbs) or hemiparesis (weakened motor functions). Basic reflexes are lost. The gaze becomes motionless (paresis), anisocoria (pupils of different sizes) or divergent strabismus occurs.

Treatment

Treatment of cerebrovascular accidents of this type includes intensive therapy, the main goal of which is to reduce blood pressure, restore vital (automatic perception of the outside world) functions, stop bleeding and eliminate cerebral edema. The following medications are used:

  1. Blood pressure-lowering drugs - ganlioblockers (Arfonad, Benzohexanium, Pentamin).
  2. To reduce the permeability of vascular walls and increase blood clotting - Dicinone, vitamin C, Vikasol, Calcium gluconate.
  3. To increase blood rheology (fluidity) - Trental, Vinkaton, Cavinton, Eufillin, Cinnarizine.
  4. Inhibiting fibrinolytic activity - ACC (aminocaproic acid).
  5. Decongestant - Lasix.
  6. Sedatives.
  7. To reduce intracranial pressure, a spinal puncture is prescribed.
  8. All drugs are administered by injection.

Ischemic

Etiology

ischemic cerebrovascular accident due to atherosclerotic plaque

Ischemic circulatory disorders are most often caused by atherosclerosis. Its development can be provoked by severe anxiety (stress, etc.) or excessive physical activity. May occur during night sleep or immediately upon awakening. Often accompanies a pre-infarction condition or myocardial infarction.

Symptoms

They may appear suddenly or grow gradually. They manifest themselves in the form of headaches, hemiparesis on the side opposite to the lesion. Impaired motor coordination, as well as visual and speech disorders.

Pathogenesis

An ischemic disorder occurs when insufficient blood flows to a particular area of ​​the brain. In this case, a focus of hypoxia arises, in which necrotic formations develop. This process is accompanied by disruption of basic brain functions.

Therapy

Treatment uses injections of medications to restore normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. These include: Korglykon, Strophanthin, Sulphocamphocaine, Reopoliklyukin, Cardiamin. Intracranial pressure is reduced by Mannitol or Lasix.

Video: causes of different types of strokes

Transient cerebrovascular accident

Transient cerebrovascular accident (TCI) occurs against the background of arterial hypertension or atherosclerosis. Sometimes the reason for its development is their combination. The main symptoms of PNMK are as follows:

  • If the focus of the pathology is located in the basin of the carotid vessels, the patient’s half of the body (on the side opposite to the focus) and part of the face around the lips become numb; paralysis or short-term paresis of the limbs is possible. Speech is impaired and an epileptic seizure may occur.
  • If the blood circulation in the vertebrobasilar area is impaired, the patient's legs and arms become weak, he becomes dizzy, it is difficult for him to swallow and pronounce sounds, photopsia occurs (the appearance of luminous points, sparks, etc. in the eyes) or diplopia (doubling of visible objects). He becomes disorientated and has memory lapses.
  • Signs of impaired cerebral circulation due to hypertension are manifested in the following: the head and eyeballs begin to hurt very much, the person experiences drowsiness, he or she experiences stuffiness in the ears (like on an airplane during takeoff or landing) and a nauseating urge. The face turns red and sweating increases. Unlike strokes, all these symptoms disappear within 24 hours. For this they received the name “transient attacks”.

Treatment of PNMK is carried out with antihypertensive, tonic and cardiotonic drugs. Antispasmodics that improve blood flow in the brain and calcium channel blockers are used. The following medications are prescribed:

Dibazol, Trental, Clonidine, Vincamine, Eufillin, Cinnarizine, Cavinton, Furasemide, beta-blockers. Alcohol tinctures of ginseng and Schisandra chinensis are used as tonics.

Chronic cerebrovascular accidents

Chronic cerebrovascular accident (CVA), unlike acute forms, develops gradually. There are three stages of the disease:

  1. At the first stage, the symptoms are vague. They are more like chronic fatigue syndrome. A person gets tired quickly, his sleep is disturbed, he often hurts and feels dizzy. He becomes hot-tempered and absent-minded. His mood often changes. He forgets some minor points.
  2. At the second stage, chronic cerebrovascular accident is accompanied by significant memory deterioration, and minor motor dysfunctions develop, causing unsteadiness in gait. There is a constant noise in my head. A person perceives information poorly, having difficulty concentrating his attention on it. He is gradually deteriorating as a person. Becomes irritable and unconfident, loses intelligence, reacts inadequately to criticism, and often becomes depressed. He constantly feels dizzy and has a headache. He always wants to sleep. Performance is reduced. He adapts poorly socially.
  3. In the third stage, all symptoms intensify. Personality degradation turns into dementia, memory suffers. Having left home alone, such a person will never find his way back. Motor functions are impaired. This manifests itself in hand tremors and stiffness of movements. Speech impairment and uncoordinated movements are noticeable.

The last stage of chronic cerebral obstruction is brain atrophy and neuron death, the development of dementia

Cerebrovascular accident is dangerous because if treatment is not carried out in the early stages, neurons die - the main units of the brain structure, which cannot be resurrected. Therefore, diagnosing the disease in the early stages is so important. It includes:

  • Identification of vascular diseases that contribute to the development of cerebrovascular accidents.
  • Making a diagnosis based on patient complaints.
  • Conducting a neuropsychological examination using the MMSE scale. It allows you to detect cognitive impairment by testing. The absence of violations is indicated by 30 points scored by the patient.
  • Duplex scanning to detect damage to cerebral vessels due to atherosclerosis and other diseases.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging, which allows identifying small hypodense (with pathological changes) foci in the brain.
  • Clinical blood tests: complete blood count, lipid profile, coagulogram, glucose.

Etiology

The main causes of cerebrovascular accident are as follows:

  1. Age. They mainly occur in people who have entered their fifth decade.
  2. Genetic predisposition.
  3. Traumatic brain injuries.
  4. Overweight. Obese people often suffer from hypercholesterolemia.
  5. Physical inactivity and increased emotionality (stress, etc.).
  6. Bad habits.
  7. Diseases: diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent) and atherosclerosis.
  8. Hypertension. High blood pressure is the most common cause of strokes.
  9. In old age, problems with blood flow in the brain can result from:
    • atrial fibrillation,
    • various diseases of the hematopoietic organs and blood,
    • chronic thrombophlebitis,
    • heart defects.

Treatment

In case of chronic disturbance of blood flow in the brain, all therapeutic measures are aimed at protecting brain neurons from death as a result of hypoxia, stimulating metabolism at the neuronal level, and normalizing blood flow in brain tissue. Medicines for each patient are selected individually. They should be taken in a strictly prescribed dosage, constantly monitoring blood pressure.

In addition, for cerebral circulatory disorders accompanied by neurological manifestations, antioxidants, venotonics, vasodilators, neuroprotectors, drugs that increase blood microcirculation, sedatives and multivitamins are used.

Chronic cerebrovascular accident can also be treated using traditional medicine, using various herbal teas and herbal teas. Particularly useful is an infusion of hawthorn flowers and a collection that includes chamomile, cudweed and motherwort. But they should be used as an additional treatment course that enhances the main drug therapy.

People with increased weight who are at risk for developing atherosclerosis due to high cholesterol need to pay attention to nutrition. There are special diets for them, which you can learn about from a nutritionist who monitors the organization of nutrition for patients undergoing treatment in an inpatient department of any hospital. Dietary products include everything of plant origin, seafood and fish. But milk products, on the contrary, should be low in fat.

If cholesterolemia is significant and the diet does not give the necessary results, medications included in the statin group are prescribed: Liprimar, Atorvacar, Vabarin, Torvacard, Simvatin. With a large degree of narrowing of the lumen between the walls of the carotid arteries (more than 70%), a carotid endarterectomy (surgical operation) is required, which is performed only in specialized clinics. For stenosis less than 60%, conservative treatment is sufficient.

Rehabilitation after acute cerebrovascular accident

Drug therapy can stop the progression of the disease. But she is unable to regain the ability to move. Only special gymnastic exercises can help with this. You need to be prepared for the fact that this process is quite long and be patient. The patient’s relatives must learn to perform massage and therapeutic exercises, since they will have to do them for him for six months or more.

Kinesiotherapy is indicated as the basis for early rehabilitation after dynamic cerebrovascular accident in order to fully restore motor functions. It is especially necessary in the restoration of motor skills, as it contributes to the creation of a new model of the hierarchy of the nervous system for the physiological control of the motor functions of the body. The following techniques are used in kinesitherapy:

  1. Gymnastics “Balance”, aimed at restoring coordination of movements;
  2. Feldenkrais reflex exercise system.
  3. The Voight system, aimed at restoring motor activity by stimulating reflexes;
  4. Microkenisotherapy.

Passive gymnastics “Balance” is prescribed to every patient with cerebral circulation disorders as soon as consciousness returns to him. Usually, relatives help the patient perform it. It includes kneading the fingers and toes, flexing and straightening the limbs. Exercises begin to be performed from the lower extremities, gradually moving upward. The complex also includes kneading the head and cervical regions. Before starting the exercises and finishing the gymnastics, you should use light massaging movements. It is imperative to monitor the patient's condition. Gymnastics should not cause him to become overtired. The patient can independently perform eye exercises (squinting, rotating, fixing the gaze at one point, and some others). Gradually, with the improvement of the patient's general condition, the load is increased. An individual recovery method is selected for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the course of the disease.

Photo: basic passive gymnastics exercises

The Feldenkrais Method is a therapy that gently affects the human nervous system. It promotes the complete restoration of mental abilities, motor activity and sensuality. It includes exercises that require smooth movement when performed. The patient must focus on their coordination, making each movement meaningfully (consciously). This technique forces one to divert attention from the existing health problem and concentrate it on new achievements. As a result, the brain begins to “remember” previous stereotypes and returns to them. The patient constantly studies his body and its capabilities. This allows you to find quick ways to get him moving.

The methodology is based on three principles:

  • All exercises should be easy to learn and remember.
  • Each exercise must be performed smoothly, without overstraining the muscles.
  • While performing the exercise, the sick person should enjoy the movement.

But most importantly, you should never divide your achievements into high and low.

Additional rehabilitation measures

Breathing exercises are widely practiced, which not only normalizes blood circulation, but also relieves muscle tension that occurs under the influence of gymnastic and massage loads. In addition, it regulates the respiratory process after performing therapeutic exercises and gives a relaxing effect.

In case of cerebrovascular accidents, the patient is prescribed bed rest for a long time. This can lead to various complications, for example, disruption of natural ventilation of the lungs, the appearance of bedsores and contractures (mobility in the joint is limited). Prevention of bedsores involves frequent changes of position of the patient. It is recommended to turn him over on his stomach. At the same time, the feet hang down, the shins are located on soft pillows, and under the knees there are cotton wool discs covered with gauze.

  1. Place the patient's body in a special position. In the first days, he is transferred from one position to another by his relatives caring for him. This is done every two or three hours. After stabilizing blood pressure and improving the general condition of the patient, they are taught to do this on their own. Getting the patient into bed early (if well-being allows) will prevent contractures from developing.
  2. Perform the massage necessary to maintain normal muscle tone. The first days it includes light stroking (if muscle tone is increased) or kneading (if muscle tone is decreased) and lasts only a few minutes. Subsequently, the massage movements intensify. Rubbing is allowed. The duration of massage procedures also increases. By the end of the first half of the year, they can be completed within an hour.
  3. Perform physical therapy exercises, which, among other things, effectively combat synkinesis (involuntary muscle contractions).
  4. Vibration stimulation of paralyzed parts of the body with an oscillation frequency of 10 to 100 Hz gives a good effect. Depending on the patient’s condition, the duration of this procedure can vary from 2 to 10 minutes. It is recommended to carry out no more than 15 procedures.

For cerebrovascular accidents, alternative treatment methods are also used:

  • Reflexology, including:
    1. Treatment with odors (aromatherapy);
    2. classic version of acupuncture;
    3. acupuncture at reflex points located on the ears (auricolotherapy);
    4. acupuncture of biologically active points on the hands (su-Jack);
  • Treatment with leeches (hirudotherapy);
  • Pine baths with the addition of sea salt;
  • Oxygen baths.

Video: rehabilitation after a stroke, the program “Live Healthy!”

Read more about comprehensive rehabilitation after strokes and ischemic attacks by following the link.

Consequences of NMC

Acute cerebrovascular accident has serious consequences. In 30 cases out of a hundred, people who have suffered this disease become completely helpless.

  1. He cannot eat, perform hygiene procedures, dress, etc. on his own. Such people have a completely impaired ability to think. They lose track of time and have absolutely no orientation in space.
  2. Some people retain the ability to move. But there are many people who, after a cerebrovascular accident, remain bedridden forever. Many of them maintain a clear mind, understand what is happening around them, but are speechless and cannot express their desires and feelings in words.

connection between areas of brain damage and vital functions

Disability is a sad result of acute and in many cases chronic cerebrovascular accident. About 20% of acute cerebrovascular accidents are fatal.

But it is possible to protect yourself from this serious disease, regardless of what category of classification it belongs to. Although many people neglect it. This is an attentive attitude to your health and all the changes occurring in the body.

  • Agree that a healthy person should not have headaches. And if you suddenly feel dizzy, it means that some kind of deviation has arisen in the functioning of the systems responsible for this organ.
  • An increase in temperature is evidence of problems in the body. But many people go to work when it is 37°C, considering it normal.
  • Do you experience short-term numbness in your limbs? Most people rub them without asking the question: why is this happening?

Meanwhile, these are the companions of the first minor changes in the blood flow system. Often an acute cerebrovascular accident is preceded by a transient one. But since its symptoms disappear within 24 hours, not every person rushes to see a doctor to undergo an examination and receive the necessary drug treatment.

Today, doctors have effective drugs - thrombolytics. They literally work wonders, dissolving blood clots and restoring cerebral circulation. However, there is one “but”. To achieve maximum effect, they must be administered to the patient within three hours after the first symptoms of a stroke appear. Unfortunately, in most cases, seeking medical help is too late, when the disease has reached a severe stage and the use of thrombolytics is no longer useful.

Video: blood supply to the brain and the consequences of stroke

Hello, a few months ago I developed severe fatigue and drowsiness, the doctor diagnosed me with chronic fatigue syndrome and prescribed Vasobral, I took the course, my strength returned, the fatigue went away, and I returned to a normal rhythm of life. Now my neck and back of my head hurt, I went for an MRI and was told that my brain blood flow was impaired due to cervical osteochondrosis, the vessels were being pinched, they prescribed hardware treatment, but somehow it didn’t help me, I started taking pills again , it became easier. But osteochondrosis must be treated, otherwise I’m afraid it will get even worse. Please advise how to get rid of it and whether it can be treated, otherwise doctors prescribe all the pills and injections, but this only relieves the syndrome.

Hello! You can read information regarding osteochondrosis in the article devoted to this problem. As for treatment, in addition to medications, regular exercise therapy is necessary to strengthen the neck muscles; swimming and wearing a Shants collar are useful. You can consult a rehabilitation specialist or neurologist on these points. Avoid staying in one position for a long time, static loads and heavy lifting.

Cerebrovascular accident in adults and the elderly: symptoms, treatment and prevention

A person should always monitor his health and promptly pay attention to such body signals as frequent headaches or changes in blood composition for no apparent reason.

How to protect yourself from possible circulatory disorders in the brain and what to do if the disease does occur will be discussed in this article.

Cerebrovascular accident

The process when blood moves through the vessels of the spinal cord and brain is called cerebral circulation.

Disruption of proper blood flow can occur, for example, in the following situations:

  • The patient has some kind of cerebral vascular pathology.

Such changes can occur if in the vessels:

  1. An inflection has occurred.
  2. A blood clot has formed;
  3. The clearance has decreased;
  • A sick citizen has a disruption of blood flow in the main and cerebral arteries.

Any disturbance in the proper movement of blood through the vessels of the brain is explained by the fact that there is a discrepancy between the amount of blood that is necessary for the proper functioning of the brain and the amount of blood that actually enters the brain.

If a patient has a cerebrovascular accident, he must seek advice and examination from the doctors listed below:

  1. Neurologist;
  2. Therapist;
  3. Angiosurgeon, that is, a surgeon who examines blood circulation in the brain;
  4. Cardiologist;
  5. Reanimatologist.

Cerebral circulation may be impaired in a patient for a number of reasons:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension).
  • Special plaques that form in the blood vessels of the brain. Such formations prevent blood from moving properly through these vessels.
  • Various head injuries (bruises, concussions).
  • Constant (chronic) fatigue.

In adults

In adults, cerebral blood flow may be impaired in situations such as:

  • The presence of osteochondrosis, in which compression of the vessels responsible for the proper functioning of the brain occurs.
  • There are blood clots in the cerebral arteries that could appear after injury or surgery.
  • The person has tumors in the neck or head.

In the elderly

In people of retirement age, the correct movement of blood through the vessels of the brain can most often be disrupted if they have a history of:

  • Disease of the blood or organs that are responsible for the movement of blood;
  • Heart problems;
  • Inflammatory processes in blood vessels.

Types of cerebrovascular disorders

In medicine, the following types of cerebral circulatory disorders are distinguished:

This type has several stages:

  • The initial stage, in which clients often complain of symptoms such as:
  1. Fatigue;
  2. Dizziness or heaviness in the head;
  3. Decreased memory and speed of thinking;
  4. Sleep problems.

Such poor health can occur in a person if he wants to eat, drinks an alcoholic drink, or when weather conditions change. At this stage, the nervous system is not affected.

Discirculatory encephalopathy is divided into three stages:

  • The first stage is characterized by such unpleasant symptoms as:
  1. Sleep disturbance;
  2. Difficulty arising when changing activities;
  3. The appearance of a headache in a patient if he has been calculating or remembering something for a long time. Also, a headache can occur if a person is simply overexcited;
  4. Rapid mood changes within a short period of time.
  • During the second stage, the sick person will experience the following personal changes:
  1. Increased sensitivity and irritability;
  2. The patient becomes uninterested in what is happening around. And he does not seek communication;
  3. Various memory problems appear;
  4. A person often experiences headaches and blurred vision.
  • If the patient already has the third stage of the disease, then he will have the following signs of the disease:
  1. The patient cannot criticize himself and often cries;
  2. Does not have time to reach the toilet, since such a patient lacks control over his pelvic organs;
  3. The patient may experience headaches and memory disorders. Such a person is already considered disabled. And in the current situation, he will be given disability of the first group.

Read more about cerebrovascular diseases in another article on our website.

Leading cerebrovascular accident

A person may experience a short-term disruption in blood circulation in the brain. This disease is called “micro-stroke” or “incoming (leading) circulatory disorder in the brain.”

The main symptoms of a microstroke will be:

  1. Dizziness and tinnitus;
  2. Headache;
  3. Nausea or vomiting;
  4. Weakness in the upper or lower extremities;
  5. Speech clarity is impaired;
  6. Pale skin condition;
  7. Increased anxiety;
  8. Brief fainting;
  9. An inhibited state in which the patient cannot understand the meaning of words spoken to him by another person;
  10. Vision problems.

A microstroke can occur if the patient:

  • There are vascular spasms. Previously, we wrote in detail about the symptoms of brain spasms;
  • Changes in blood quality have occurred (blood clotting readings or blood density have changed). Due to these changes, microthrombi could form in the vessels;
  • A blockage in blood vessels (thrombus) has formed.

Microstroke is divided into three types:

  1. General cerebral dysfunction. With this type of disease, a person may lose consciousness with a sudden movement, which then returns after some time;
  2. A hypertensive cerebral crisis is a sudden increase in blood pressure that may be accompanied by severe vomiting, drowsiness, or a throbbing headache;
  3. A transient ischemic attack can be manifested by partial loss of motor function in the upper or lower extremities, and the person may also have impaired speech and problems with consciousness.

Acute violation

If poor circulation in the brain is characterized as an acute disorder, then the patient may experience the following health problems:

  • Strokes, which in turn are divided into two types:
  1. Ischemic. Such a stroke occurs if the brain does not receive oxygen in the required amount at any time. This can happen when the vessel that is responsible for supplying blood to a specific area of ​​the brain has been completely blocked by a blood clot. With this type of stroke, the patient may experience nausea;
  2. Hemorrhagic. This condition can occur in a patient if a blood vessel has burst. And so the person suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
  • Microstroke, which is some disturbance of blood circulation through the vessels of the brain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of improper blood flow through the vessels of the brain are the following:

  • Partial or complete impairment of the motor function of a person’s arms or legs;
  • The functionality of some organs, such as ears or eyes, decreases;
  • The patient experiences a sensory disturbance;
  • The patient often experiences dizziness or headache;
  • Memory decreases;
  • Absent-mindedness appears;
  • Seizures may occur if a person has epilepsy;

Diagnostics

The attending physician can diagnose the patient in the following cases:

  1. The patient already has a history of diseases such as, for example, high blood pressure or diabetes;
  2. After a duplex scan, which will help find diseased vessels;
  3. If the patient has previously had an MRI, then such a study will provide clearer information about the condition of the vessels of his brain.

Read about which doctor checks blood vessels in our similar article.

Treatment

Treatment options will depend on the diagnosis made by the doctor.

  • For chronic disorders, the patient will be prescribed special tablets that will prevent the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels, and the doctor will also give advice on how to normalize blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood;
  • If the disease is already acute, then in this case the patient will need urgent medical help.

If a stroke occurs, treatment will be carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. The patient will be ensured proper blood circulation in the body and normal breathing;
  2. Special procedures will be carried out to lower blood pressure;
  3. If the patient has cerebral edema, then this edema will need to be reduced;
  4. A special set of measures will restore brain functions that were impaired due to the attack.

What are the dangers of cerebrovascular accidents?

Impaired blood circulation in the brain is fraught with the following problems for a person:

  1. Blood clots can form in the vessels, which will lead to brain hypoxia. Even if doctors can help the patient come to his senses, there is still no guarantee that the person will remain competent after the attack.
  2. A vessel may rupture, followed by hemorrhage in the brain. With such a disorder, swelling may appear in the brain, which can lead to the death of the patient.

Prevention

In order to prevent this type of disease, a person needs to take special preventive measures:

  • It is necessary to combine mental and physical work.
  • Any work that a person performs should bring him, if possible, only positive emotions.
  • It is important to establish a sleep schedule. For an adult, sleep should last no more than eight hours a day.
  • You need to spend more time in nature.
  • We must try to be less nervous, then there will be no disturbances in the brain, and the nervous system will be healthy.
  • It is imperative that a person eats a balanced diet and on a schedule. Fasting days will also be beneficial. On such days, you can replace everyday food with, for example, prunes and apples, as well as cheese and a chicken egg.
  • And it is imperative to drink enough water per day. In this case, ordinary water can be replaced with mineral water. On all other days, you should not neglect foods such as cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, greens (parsley and dill).

You can also eat every two days:

  1. Boiled or fried meat and broths on it.
  2. Foods that are rich in cholesterol, namely fish roe, chicken eggs, animal liver or heart.
  3. The consumption of sweets should be reduced to one hundred grams per day.

As can be seen from what was written above, preventing a disease is much easier than treating it later, if it is not too late.

And of course, we should not forget about prevention, by carrying out which a person can protect himself from many health problems. After all, you need to take care of yourself and your health.

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The human brain requires a large amount of blood, which naturally transports oxygen. Poor blood circulation to the brain occurs due to arterial disorders, blockage of blood vessels and the development of blood clots.

This pathology is considered serious, because its consequences lead to tissue death and the brain stopping performing vital functions. If you notice symptoms indicating poor circulation, you should immediately contact a specialist to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Signs of poor circulation

According to scientists, the human brain includes a large number of nerve endings and cells. Their violations lead to a variety of pathologies and diseases, as a result of which some brain functions are lost.

The first signs of circulatory problems may not be visible at all or may be so minor that they can be confused with a regular migraine. After some time, the symptoms of brain dysfunction manifest themselves more and become visible and obvious.

Symptoms of poor circulation are:

  1. severe headaches that can only be relieved by taking medications;
  2. eye pain that intensifies when concentrating on an object;
  3. nausea and dizziness. A person’s orientation in space deteriorates;
  4. tinnitus, the intensity of which increases every day;
  5. convulsions;
  6. fever, high blood pressure and body temperature.

In many cases, these signs are associated with psychological problems and disorders of the human nervous system. They appear for no reason. Symptoms appear quickly and disappear quickly. It is important to know that if the slightest deviation is detected, you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe the necessary treatment.

Causes of blood supply disorders


The circulatory system has a very complex structure. Transport of oxygen and other substances is carried out using arteries. Normally, the brain should receive about 25% of all oxygen received.

In order for it to function normally, 15% of the blood in the human body is required. If these volumes are not observed, then over time, circulatory problems are inevitable. This is a serious pathology caused by various diseases of the circulatory system.

One of the common diseases is vascular atherosclerosis. Basically, it often occurs in people of advanced age or in people suffering from poor metabolism. The disease leads not only to impaired blood supply to the brain, but also to poor blood circulation in the body.

Hypertension also leads to problems with brain function. This occurs due to systematic pressure changes. The processes affect the functioning of blood vessels and have a bad effect on the functioning of the blood supply. Depression, fatigue and nervous disorders lead to pathologies of brain function over time.

If a person has previously had injuries or surgeries on the skull, then after a certain time he may feel some deviations. Physiological causes of impaired blood supply include sedentary work, intense participation in any sport, spinal injuries, scoliosis and others.

In order for the body and all its organs to function normally, you should be examined by a specialist every year and monitor your health. This is especially true for people at risk.

Useful to know: Sclerosis: symptoms, treatment, prevention. What causes this disease?

The cause of the pathology is not as important as timely consultation with a doctor and quality treatment, because disorders can affect the functioning of the brain and the functioning of the body as a whole, its internal organs.

The danger of blood flow disorders in the brain


Poor circulation leads to attacks, the consequence of which can be an ischemic stroke.

First symptoms- Nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, some internal organs are affected.

Its consequences is a speech and musculoskeletal disorder. Transient attacks occur in older people. During them, a person’s motor function is impaired, vision is lost, and paralysis of the limbs may occur.

Hemorrhagic stroke leads to disturbances in the transport of blood to the brain. In these cases, the rate of blood circulation increases, which leads to a sharp deterioration in the general condition of the body. This type of stroke is common among older adults and is often fatal.

All strokes lead to the development of pathologies. In old age, such people may experience chronic disturbances in the blood supply to the brain, as a result of which the patient may lose memory. At best, only mental activity and intelligence decrease. These are not all the consequences that can be found in people who have experienced a stroke and various attacks.

Circulatory disorders in children

Despite the fact that pathologies in the blood flow occur most often in older people, there are cases when children also suffer from various diseases. A child's brain requires a higher percentage of blood and oxygen than an adult's. Deviation from the norm leads to serious disturbances and changes in brain activity.

The structure of a child's brain is no different from that of an adult. It has arteries and vessels that carry out brain activity. Poor blood circulation to the brain in children has the same symptoms as in adults.

Brain tissue development occurs after birth, so changes in the brain can occur during this time. If a sign of a disorder is detected, you should immediately go to the hospital for examination so as not to miss the development of serious diseases, because they can affect the mental development of the child.

Among children, brain dysfunction most often occurs in newborns. This is facilitated by pathologies that arose if there was insufficient oxygen supply to the child in the womb. Maternal injuries, bad habits and infectious diseases can also affect the development of the newborn.

Genetics and the incompatibility of the blood type of mother and child play a big role.

Birth injuries, suffocation, and prematurity can cause cerebral circulatory problems. Usually the consequences are not long in coming and can appear during the first year of life.

A child is more susceptible to diseases than an adult, so treatment will not be easy. Its difficulty lies in the fact that all internal organs have not yet fully developed, and it is unknown how they will react to the therapy proposed by the doctor. Medicines must be selected carefully so that no vital system is affected.

It should be borne in mind that the consequences of poor blood flow can haunt the child for a long time, or even throughout his life. They can be different, ranging from difficulty understanding school material, to cerebral edema and epilepsy, so there is no need to delay treatment. It can be provided already in the first days of life, but the risks are great. Pathologies of the brain in newborns can lead to death.

Diagnostics of blood supply to the brain


At the first signs of abnormal brain function, you should contact a specialized clinic for diagnosis and treatment. Healthy people who do not exhibit any symptoms indicating the disease also need to be examined once a year. This must be done in order to detect a problem in time, if there is one.

Diagnosis is carried out in various ways. The first is an MRI of the brain. This type of examination allows you to see the condition of the tissues and find out how affected parts of the brain are. This method is one of the most effective, because it allows you to see even nerve trunks and membranes. Neurosonography is prescribed for newborn children. Diagnosis is carried out through a fontanel that has not yet become overgrown.

There are many more types of examinations that a doctor may prescribe. He looks at the patient’s condition, his symptoms and, based on this, determines the type of diagnosis. After this, pills and other drugs are prescribed that can restore the blood supply to the brain.

Prevention


There are many ways and means to prevent diseases. They are used both in traditional and folk medicine. In the traditional one, diagnostics is first carried out. Only then does the doctor look at the condition of the blood vessels in the brain, draw certain conclusions and prescribe medications for prevention. They are always selected on an individual basis, because what suits one patient may not suit another.

Mostly, drugs are prescribed that improve blood flow to the brain. Only after their systematic use can improvements be achieved. Usually a whole course of medications is prescribed, because there is no medicine in nature that can independently eliminate all problems related to the functioning of the brain.

The doctor may prescribe both tablets and injections. All of them affect arteries and blood vessels. In some cases they expand them, and in others, on the contrary, they narrow them. For prevention, some pregnant women are prescribed medications that allow the baby to be born healthy even if abnormalities are detected by ultrasound. In any case, you should not self-medicate. This won't end well.

In medicine, there are many ways to prevent various diseases, and disorders associated with brain function are not spared. All products are used exclusively for preventive purposes when the disease has not yet occurred. Before doing this, you need to consult a specialist.

First group prophylactic drugs originating from India. They consist exclusively of herbs and help strengthen the general condition of the body. Tea is made from plants and consumed every day. The results of treatment can be indicated by the fact that in India there are many long-lived people.

Second group- These are dietary supplements that help improve blood circulation. The composition of the preparations includes herbs, vitamins and minerals. They are absolutely safe and suitable for the prevention of various diseases. They should be taken together with a balanced diet. Only then will the result be noticeable.

Useful to know: Brain hematoma: causes, signs and risk factors

Third group- This is homeopathy. Doctors have long debated the benefits of homeopathic medicines. Some even believe that they cannot be called medical drugs, but rather supplements. Their goal is to improve the immune system, which will improve the general condition of the body and protect it from viruses and infections.

Many doctors recommend massage as a preventive measure for many diseases. With its help, blood flow improves and a person relaxes. It is also prescribed if blood clots are suspected. Vitamins C and E are added to all treatment complexes. They have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system. People who are obese and overweight should, for preventive purposes, visit a nutritionist who will prescribe a therapeutic diet.

In folk medicine there are remedies that help improve blood flow. If a person suffers from dizziness, then he may be helped by a tincture based on clover, which is recommended to be infused for about three weeks, and taken at night and before meals. If you have poor blood circulation, you can use chestnut tincture. Herbs also improve the condition of the body as a whole. Any tinctures and decoctions can be taken if the doctor has given permission to do so.

Physical activity and diet


As you know, physical activity can improve the condition of the human body and organism. Daily morning exercises and walks in the fresh air will help normalize blood circulation in the brain. For this, doctors recommend breathing exercises. For quick results, you can contact a trainer, but you can do it at home. All breathing exercises are found in yoga and Pilates.

People who already suffer from diseases related to the circulation of the brain should engage in physical therapy or swimming. Before training, you need to tell not only the doctor, but also the trainer about your symptoms and illnesses. Then he will select those exercises that will be effective and safe.

When there is poor blood flow to the brain, nutritionists recommend monitoring your diet. Only a daily correct diet can either improve the condition or worsen it. There are many foods that improve blood circulation. In order to improve your health, you need to eat fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil every day. Dairy products also have a positive effect on the body. You should eat only high-quality products.

There are foods that, on the contrary, harm blood circulation in the brain. They are most often saturated with unhealthy substances, such as cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

You should avoid the following products:

  1. sugar;
  2. smoked meats;
  3. products with synthetic flavors;
  4. flour;
  5. sweet carbonated drinks;
  6. alcohol.

Alcohol abuse is very harmful not only to blood vessels, but also to the entire human body. This addiction causes addiction and various diseases associated with blood circulation. People suffering from alcohol addiction are susceptible to strokes and heart attacks. Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation.

Chronic cerebrovascular accident (cerebral vascular insufficiency) is characterized by a decrease in blood supply to the brain. This condition is very common among older people in developed countries due to the high prevalence of atherosclerosis. In most cases, the carotid artery is damaged. A pair of carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck, running parallel to the jugular vein, are the main arteries that supply blood to the brain.

As a rule, cerebral vascular insufficiency develops in the area of ​​​​the bifurcation of the carotid artery - the splitting of the carotid artery into internal and external branches. This splitting is similar to a stream that has split into two streams. In bifurcation, as well as during bifurcation in a water flow, accumulation of slag occurs. Severe symptoms begin to appear in most cases only when the artery blockage reaches 90 percent. This situation is similar to what happens with coronary heart disease.

Symptoms of chronic cerebrovascular accident are caused by decreased blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. Stopping the flow of blood and oxygen leads to a stroke. The official definition of stroke is "loss of nerve function for at least 24 hours due to lack of oxygen." Some strokes are mild; others result in paralysis, coma, or speech impairment, depending on what part of the brain is involved. Mini-strokes, or transient ischemic attacks, can result in loss of nerve function for an hour or more, but less than 24 hours. TIAs can lead to transient symptoms of cerebral vascular insufficiency: dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, confusion, and so on.

Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of cerebrovascular insufficiency. As this process progresses, high cholesterol levels combined with inflammation in the walls of the arteries in the brain can cause cholesterol to accumulate on the vessel wall in the form of a thick, waxy plaque. This plaque can restrict or completely prevent blood flow to the brain, causing stroke, transient ischemic attacks, or dementia, which can lead to a variety of other health complications.

The most common forms of cerebrovascular disease of the brain are thrombosis (40% of cases) and cerebral embolism (30%), followed by cerebral hemorrhages (20%).

Another form of cerebrovascular disease includes aneurysms. In women with defective collagen, weak key arterial branch points result in ridges with a very thin endothelial covering that can easily rupture with minimal increase in blood pressure. It can also occur with poor capillaries caused by cholesterol deposition in tissues, especially in hypertensive patients with or without dyslipidemia. If bleeding occurs, the result is a hemorrhagic stroke in the form of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or both.

A drop in blood pressure during sleep can lead to a marked decrease in blood flow in narrowed blood vessels, causing ischemic stroke in the morning. Conversely, a sharp increase in blood pressure due to daytime agitation can lead to rupture of blood vessels, resulting in intracranial hemorrhage. Cerebrovascular disease primarily affects people who are elderly or have a history of diabetes, smoking, or coronary heart disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident depend on the degree of damage to brain cells and the location of the area of ​​the brain with impaired blood flow. In acute cerebrovascular accidents (hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke), movement disorders such as hemiplegia or hemiparesis develop.

In chronic cerebral circulatory disorders (also called discirculatory encephalopathy), symptoms develop gradually and are manifested by symptoms such as memory impairment, dizziness, headaches. At first, the patient does not have any impairment of intellectual abilities. But as there is a chronic lack of oxygen in the brain tissue, memory impairment begins to progress, personality disorders arise, and intelligence decreases significantly. Subsequently, the patient develops severe intellectual-mnestic and cognitive impairments and dementia develops; extrapyramidal disorders and cerebellar ataxia may also develop.

Causes

Chronic cerebral circulatory failure is most often associated with atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart disease accompanied by chronic circulatory failure. In addition, CNMK may be associated with vascular anomalies and diseases (vasculitis), venous anomalies, diabetes mellitus and various blood diseases, which result in chronic cerebral hypoxia.

Also, chronic cerebrovascular accident occurs as a consequence of acute cerebral circulatory disorders such as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. A clot can form in an artery that is already narrowed. Also, a clot can break off from the wall of a vessel somewhere in the body and travel through the bloodstream to the brain.

Ischemic strokes can also be caused by blood clots that form in the heart. These clots travel to the brain through the bloodstream and can become lodged in small arteries in the brain.

Some medications and medical conditions can increase blood clotting and cause blood clot formation and increase the risk of ischemic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in a certain part of the brain becomes weak and ruptures, causing blood to leak into the brain and the blood damages brain cells. Some people have defects in the blood vessels in the brain that make a hemorrhagic stroke more likely.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of chronic cerebrovascular accident is made based on a combination of examination data, symptoms, neurological signs, results of brain neuroimaging (MRI, CT or MSCT), angiography of cerebral vessels.

The doctor may detect the presence of certain neurological, motor, and sensory deficits, such as changes in vision or visual fields, abnormal reflexes, abnormal eye movements, muscle weakness, decreased sensation, and other changes. In addition, certain tests help determine the presence of intellectual-mnestic disorders.

Laboratory research methods are prescribed for the diagnosis of somatic diseases.

Treatment

If there are diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus or other diseases, then, first of all, it is necessary to compensate for the underlying disease.

To treat chronic cerebrovascular accidents, various medications are used - vascular drugs (Trental, Cavinton, Sermion, etc.), nootropics, metabolic drugs, antioxidants. To prevent the formation of blood clots, antiplatelet agents such as aspirin, dipyridamole are prescribed. For high cholesterol levels in the blood Statins may be used.

Sometimes surgical treatment is required to eliminate the blood flow disorder - for example, carotid endarterectomy. Treatment methods such as carotid angioplasty and stenting are also used.

Prevention

The development of cerebrovascular disease can be prevented to a certain extent by following these recommendations: quitting smoking, regular exercise, eating a healthy low-fat diet, maintaining a normal weight, controlling blood pressure, controlling hypertension, avoiding chronic stress, and lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Cerebral circulation is the movement of blood in the vascular system of the brain and spinal cord. In a pathological process that causes cerebrovascular accidents, the main and cerebral arteries (aorta, brachiocephalic trunk, as well as common, internal and external carotid, vertebral, subclavian, spinal, basilar, radicular arteries and their branches), cerebral and jugular veins, and venous sinuses may be affected. The nature of the pathology of cerebral vessels can be different: thrombosis, embolism, kinks and looping, narrowing of the lumen, aneurysms of the vessels of the brain and spinal cord.

The concept of cerebral vascular insufficiency is generally defined as a state of imbalance between the need and supply of blood to the brain. It is most often based on the restriction of blood flow in atherosclerotic narrowed cerebral vessels. In this case, a temporary decrease in systemic blood pressure may cause the development of ischemia in the area of ​​the brain supplied by a vessel with a narrowed lumen.

Based on the nature of cerebral circulatory disorders, the initial manifestations of insufficiency of blood supply to the brain are distinguished:

  • acute cerebrovascular accidents (transient disorders, intrathecal hemorrhages, strokes);
  • chronic slowly progressive disorders of cerebral and spinal circulation (dyscirculatory encephalopathy and myelopathy).

Chronic cerebrovascular accident- dyscirculatory encephalopathy is a slowly progressive cerebrovascular insufficiency, cerebral circulatory failure, leading to the development of many small-focal necrosis of brain tissue and impaired brain function.

Transient cerebrovascular accidents - an acute disorder of brain functions of vascular origin, which is characterized by the suddenness and short duration of dyscirculatory disorders in the brain and is expressed by general cerebral and focal symptoms. The most important criterion for transient cerebrovascular accidents is the complete reversibility of focal or diffuse neurological symptoms within 24 hours. The following forms are distinguished: transient ischemic attacks and hypertensive crises.

Ischemic cerebrovascular accidents arise as a result of local cerebral ischemia and are manifested by focal neurological disorders and, less commonly, a disorder of consciousness. Local cerebral ischemia develops due to thrombosis or embolism outside or intracranial arteries, in rare cases, cerebral hypoperfusion due to systemic hemodynamic disorders. In cases where neurological disorders resolve within 24 hours, the disease is regarded as a transient ischemic attack. If neurological disorders persist for more than a day, ischemic stroke is diagnosed.

Causes of cerebrovascular accidents

The main reason is atherosclerosis. This is a disease accompanied by the formation of fatty plaques on the inner walls of the arteries, gradually blocking them and impeding blood flow through them. Before clinical symptoms appear, the narrowing of the carotid artery can be 75%. Platelets accumulate in affected areas, forming blood clots, the separation of which from the wall of a blood vessel can lead to blockage of blood vessels in the brain. Blood clots can also form in the brain. Other causes of cerebral circulation disorders are heart and blood vessel diseases, degenerative changes in the cervical spine. Stroke can be caused by rheumatic heart disease, changes in the heart valves, migraines, stress and physical strain. Impaired cerebral circulation can be a consequence of trauma, for example, resulting from a short-term pinching of the neck by a seat belt (the so-called “whiplash”) in a traffic accident. Due to a slight tear in the wall of the carotid artery, blood begins to collect in it, which leads to blockage of the artery. Cerebral circulation disorders can be caused by: cerebral bleeding, radiation sickness, complicated migraine, etc.

One common cause is bleeding in the brain due to high blood pressure. With a sharp rise in blood pressure, a vessel may rupture, causing blood to enter the brain, causing an intracerebral hematoma. A more rare cause of hemorrhage is a ruptured aneurysm. As a rule, related to a congenital pathology, an arterial aneurysm is a protrusion in the form of a sac on the wall of a vessel. The walls of such a protrusion, unlike the walls of a normal vessel, do not have a sufficiently powerful muscular and elastic frame. Therefore, sometimes a relatively small increase in pressure, which can be observed during physical activity or emotional stress in completely healthy people, leads to rupture of the aneurysm wall.

In addition, it is very important to remember that cerebrovascular accidents can develop against the background of chronic fatigue syndrome. In this case, a person should consult a doctor as soon as possible for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. This human condition can lead to disruption of the functioning of such body systems as endocrine, digestive, and, of course, cardiovascular.

And the constant stressful situations that a person finds himself in also do not give him health. In addition to cerebrovascular accidents and arterial hypertension, stress can lead to the development of nervous breakdowns and dysfunction of the central nervous system. Yes, and impaired blood circulation in the brain during stressful situations can also be quite serious.

Symptoms of cerebrovascular accident

Clinical symptoms of initial manifestations of insufficiency of blood supply to the brain are:

  • headache after intense mental and physical work;
  • dizziness, noise in the head;
  • decreased performance;
  • memory loss;
  • absent-mindedness;
  • sleep disturbance.

Focal neurological symptoms in such patients are usually absent or represented by scattered microsymptoms. To diagnose the initial manifestations of insufficient blood supply to the brain, it is necessary to identify objective signs of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, vasomotor dystonia and exclude other somatic pathologies, as well as neurosis.

Diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident

For diagnosis it is important:

  • the presence of vascular disease for a number of years - hypertension, atherosclerosis, blood disease, diabetes mellitus;
  • characteristic complaints of the patient;
  • data from neuropsychological studies - the most common MMSE scale for identifying cognitive impairment (normally you need to score 30 points by completing the proposed tests);
  • examination by an ophthalmologist who discovered signs of angiopathy in the fundus;
  • duplex scanning data - the possibility of neuroimaging of atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral vessels, vascular malformations, venous encephalopathy;
  • magnetic resonance imaging data - detection of small hypodense foci in the periventricular spaces (around the ventricles), zones of leukariasis, changes in liquor-containing spaces, signs of atrophy of the cerebral cortex and focal (post-stroke) changes;
  • blood tests - general, sugar, coagulogram, lipidogram.

Recurrent headaches, dizziness, increased blood pressure, impaired intellectual activity - even simple absent-mindedness should lead you to a neurologist.

Treatment of cerebrovascular accidents

Treatment should be aimed at preventing the development of repeated PMI and cerebral stroke. In mild cases (disappearance of symptoms of circulatory disorders within a few minutes), treatment in an outpatient setting is possible. In severe cases lasting more than 1 hour, and with repeated violations, hospitalization is indicated.

Therapeutic measures include:

  • improvement of cerebral blood flow;
  • rapid activation of collateral circulation;
  • improvement of microcirculation;
  • relieving cerebral edema;
  • improving brain metabolism.

To improve cerebral blood flow normalization of blood pressure and increased cardiac activity are indicated. For this purpose, korglykon 1 ml of 0.06% solution in 20 ml of 40% glucose solution or strophanthin 0.25-0.5 ml of 0.05% solution with glucose is prescribed intravenously.

To reduce high blood pressure Dibazol is indicated in 2-3 ml of 1% solution IV or 2-4 ml of 2% solution IM, papaverine hydrochloride in 2 ml of 2% solution IV, no-spa in 2 ml of 2% solution IM or 10 ml of 25% magnesium sulfate solution intramuscularly.

To improve microcirculation and collateral circulation use drugs that reduce the aggregation of blood cells. Rapid-acting antiplatelet agents include rheopolyglucin (400 ml IV drip), aminophylline (10 ml 2.4% IV solution in 20 ml 40% glucose solution).

Patients with severe form of PNMK Parenteral administration of antiplatelet agents is indicated during the first three days, then it is necessary to take 0.5 g of acetylsalicylic acid orally 3 times a day after meals for a year, and if ischemic attacks are repeated, for two years to prevent the formation of cellular aggregates (microemboli) , and therefore, to prevent the recurrence of PNMC and cerebral stroke. If there are contraindications for the use of acetylsalicylic acid (gastric ulcer), we can recommend bromcamphor orally 0.5 g 3 times a day, which has the ability not only to reduce platelet aggregation, but also to accelerate the disaggregation of blood cellular elements.

With cerebral edema dehydration therapy is carried out: furosemide (Lasix) orally 40 mg IV or IM 20 mg during the first day. To improve metabolism in the brain, Amin Alon, Cerebrolysin, and B vitamins are prescribed.

As symptomatic therapy in case of an attack of systemic dizziness, atropine-like drugs are indicated - belloid, bellataminal, as well as cinnarizine (stugerop), diazepam (seduxen) and aminazine. It is advisable to use sedative therapy (valerian, oxazepam - tazepam, trioxazine, chlordiazepoxide - elenium, etc.) for 1-2.5 weeks.

When PNMK in the internal carotid artery system in young people, angiography is indicated to decide the issue of surgical intervention. Surgical treatment is used for stenosis or acute blockage of the carotid artery in the neck.