Cerebrovascular Accidents

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Cerebrovasclar Disease

Cerebrovascular disease is a condition involving blood flow in the brain. The most common cerebrovascular disease, stroke, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and the number one cause of disability, suffered by more than 700,000 people a year.

The brain receives roughly 20 percent of the blood that flows through the body. When this blood flow is disrupted, causing either too little or too much blood to enter the brain, brain cells lose their supply of nutrients and a stroke occurs. If a stroke is not tended to immediately, brain cells will die and permanent brain damage or death can occur.

Stroke usually does not occur without warning signs. Minor strokes often occur first, increasing the risk of a major stroke to follow. A severe, sudden headache can also be an indicator of stroke and should be tended to immediately. Other common symptoms of stroke include: visual disturbances, such as blocked or blurry vision; weakness, numbness or clumsiness in one arm or hand; language problems, such as slurred speech; facial droop; and dizziness or difficulty walking. Because of the severe consequences of stroke, any such symptoms should be treated urgently.

Other types of cerebrovascular events include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), carotid artery disease, aneurysms and vascular malformations. Each of these cerebrovascular events usually either precedes or predisposes a person to a later stroke.

TIAs cause temporary blockage of brain arteries. They usually last two to 30 minutes and produce stroke-like symptoms, but don''t cause permanent damage. Carotid artery disease, a buildup of plaque on the artery wall, causes stenosis, a cerebrovascular disease that refers to the narrowing of the arteries. Aneurysms are blood-filled dilations of arteries, which usually begin as small bubbles and can grow to several centimeters. Aneurysms are at risk of rupturing, which could cause instantaneous death. Immediate treatment, whether through surgery or careful monitoring, is necessary. Vascular malformations are abnormal connections of arteries, veins or both. Rupture prevention is the most important method of treatment for these types of cerebrovascular conditions.

Cerebrovascular diseases are usually diagnosed through diagnostic imaging tests, which allow surgeons to look inside the arteries in and around the brain. Examples of these tests are Doppler ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI/MRA and angiography. In each of these tests, x-rays or magnetic rays take images of the brain to look for previous strokes or blockage of arteries and determine level of blood flow to the brain.

In addition to prior history of stroke, risk factors of cerebrovascular disease include high blood pressure - the leading cause of stroke - or hypertension, smoking, obesity and high cholesterol. Diet, exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices can eliminate or reduce these risks.

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Cerebrovascular Accidents

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Cerebrovasclar Disease

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