Cerebrovascular Disease

This disease is the most common cause of cognitive impairment after Alzheimer's disease and is one of the leading causes of disability in older Americans. A study conducted by the WHO in 2001 revealed, that 5.5 million deaths across the globe were caused due to cerebrovascular diseases. Though this disease occurs mostly in the elderly, it is also seen to occur in young and middle aged people.

What is Cerebrovascular Disease?

Cerebrovascular disease is a general term encompassing different conditions affecting the vascular system of the brain. Any disease affecting the functioning of blood vessels supplying blood to the brain is referred to as a cerebrovascular disease. Such diseases occur when the arteries carrying oxygenated blood to the brain get damaged or blocked due to plaque deposits. The blockage can restrict the blood flow, thereby depriving the brain of crucial oxygen supply and ends up in a stroke.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cerebrovascular disorder, wherein fat deposits on the arterial walls conduce to narrowing of artery width, leading to blocking of arteries and stroke. It can also be caused due to rupture of arteries, wherein bleeding takes place either in the brain tissue (cerebral hemorrhage) or bleeding confined to the coverings of the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage). Then lesions, occlusion of lumen by a blood clot, embolus or weakness of the blood vessels in the brain, which can conduce to ballooning of the artery also come under cerebrovascular disorder.

Different Types

Ischemic Stroke: Blocking or narrowing of arteries due to deposition of fat on the arterial walls can lead to two types of clots, one which remain put in the brain (cerebral thrombus), while the other type of clot travels via the bloodstream and enter the brain (cerebral Embolism). Blood clots can be caused due to dysfunctional heart valves, mechanical heart valves, irregular heart beats, etc.

Hemorrhagic Stroke: The second category of disease involves the weakening of the arteries and finally their rupture, leading to bleeding in the brain. This bleeding damages the brain cells.

Transient Ischemic Attack: This type is caused by temporary blockage of an artery, however, is not associated with any permanent damage.

Causes

What exactly causes the blood vessels to get damaged? One prominent causative factor is hypertension or high blood pressure, which can be attributed to causing damage to blood vessel lining and chronic hypertension conduces to change in arterial makeup, causing them to become narrow and stiff. Smoking, obesity, diabetes, high alcohol consumption, high cholesterol levels are also other risk factors leading to cerebrovascular diseases.

Symptoms

The symptoms seen and experienced will depend on the damage caused to the brain and the area where damage has been caused.

• Difficulty in swallowing or drooling
• Memory loss
• Weakness in leg, arm or one side of the face.
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe headache
• Mental changes like forgetfulness, confusion.
• Inability to plan and organize activities
• Difficulty in speaking and expressing opinions
• Difficulty in reading and writing
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Vision problems

Treatment

As far as reversing the damage is concerned, there is no treatment available. However, there is medication available to prevent occurrence of strokes. To prevent blood clot formation, there are blood platelet inhibitors available, that help reduce the risk of stroke incidence. To remove plaque buildup and prevent blocking of the carotid artery, there is a surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy, wherein the plaque is removed by a dissecting tool to restore blood flow. Carotid angioplasty and stenting is also used to prevent blood flow blockage in the blood vessels.

Instead of living with the irreversible damages caused by a stroke, it is important for us to take all preventive measure to avoid such an occurrence. Controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes is crucial in preventing strokes. Consume a healthy balanced diet, exercise well and refrain from smoking and alcohol intake. This will help attenuate the risks of strokes. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!