Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels in adults
From the consequences of atherosclerosis that affects the vessels of the brain, especially strokes, hundreds of thousands of people die every year, and some remain disabled. What is the cause of this disease and how to treat it?

Damage to the vessels of the brain in atherosclerosis threatens with strokes, due to which speech, memory, movement and other brain functions suffer. No less dangerous is dementia, because of which a person needs constant care and control – this is also a consequence of atherosclerosis.

What is atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels (the second name is progressive cerebral atherosclerosis) is a chronic pathology that has a slow but constantly progressive course. Due to the defeat of blood vessels by plaques, cerebrovascular accidents occur, which threatens the development of a stroke or dementia.

Causes of cerebral atherosclerosis in adults

Atherosclerosis, including in the area of ​​cerebral vessels, occurs when there is a violation of lipid (fat) metabolism. In the blood plasma, the concentration of “good” and bad cholesterol, other types of fat (triglycerides, chylomicrons) changes. Due to the imbalance of lipids, they begin to cover the walls of the arteries with a fatty coating, impregnate the vascular wall, form plaques that narrow the internal lumen of the artery and impair blood flow.

Scientists have not yet determined the exact reason why atherosclerosis begins and progresses – various theories are being discussed. However, a number of factors have been identified that can influence the process of vascular damage, accelerating the formation of plaques and damage.

There are two groups of factors – irremovable (we cannot do anything with them), and removable (the patient himself can influence them).

Fatal risk factors:

  • unfavorable heredity – certain genes, features that are obtained from parents;
  • age (the older we are, the higher the risk);
  • gender (men suffer from atherosclerosis earlier, but women also have an increased risk from menopause).

Eliminable Risk Factors:

  • high blood pressure;
  • bad habits;
  • overweight;
  • unhealthy diet;
  • inactivity.
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Symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis in adults

Atherosclerosis is a rather specific condition. For many years, it can affect the vessels without giving symptoms at all. He is silent and dangerous, considered a time bomb.

In the brain, narrowing of the arteries due to plaque build-up and reduced elasticity can reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrients to nerve cells. The symptoms are strongly influenced by where exactly the plaque grows, which area of ​​the brain the affected artery supplies with blood.

The most dangerous severe options can be considered the so-called transient ischemic attacks or stroke. It depends on how long the ischemia (lack of oxygen) in the tissues was.

In chronic hypoxia of the brain with vascular damage by atherosclerosis, the following symptoms appear:

  • frequent or chronic headache;
  • periodic deterioration of vision or its progressive loss;
  • noise in ears;
  • dizziness attacks;
  • periodic numbness of the limbs or face;
  • muscle weakness;
  • changes in the emotional background;
  • disorders of speech, memory and thinking.

In each person, the symptoms can be combined with each other, and largely depend on which area of ​​the brain is affected the most. If the vessel is blocked by a thrombus that has formed in the area of ​​the damaged plaque, signs of a stroke develop.

Treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis in adults

If a patient shows signs of cerebral atherosclerosis, he should be under the constant supervision of a general practitioner or family doctor. If there are signs of disturbances in the functioning of the brain, the neurologist periodically controls the condition, he also prescribes treatment and measures to prevent complications.

Diagnostics

Since there may be no complaints or any symptoms in the initial stages of the disease, the main diagnostic method is laboratory tests and instrumental studies. The doctor prescribes:

  • blood tests to determine the level of lipids, blood glucose and proteins;
  • dopplerography of the vessels of the head;
  • CT scan with angiography of cerebral vessels;
  • MRI with vascular angiography.

According to the standards of care for patients under 45 years of age, blood lipid levels should be taken every two years. In the presence of risk factors or a confirmed diagnosis – once every 3-6 months.

Modern treatments

At the initial stage, the basis of treatment is non-drug correction of plasma lipid levels. The doctor recommends the fight against risk factors – proper nutrition, giving up bad habits, physical activity, protection from stress, losing weight. It is also important to treat all concomitant pathologies – control of diabetes, pressure, treatment of infections.

If this is not enough, there are a number of drugs that help control the condition:

  • drugs that prevent the absorption of cholesterol from food (Cholestyramine, Hemofibrozil) or vegetable sorbents that bind cholesterol in the intestine (Guarem);
  • statins – they reduce the formation of cholesterol in the body (Rozuvastatin, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Lovastatin);
  • fibrates – also affect cholesterol metabolism (Besalip, Taykor, Lipanor, Fenofibrate);
  • unsaturated fatty acids – they help remove dangerous fats (Eikonol, Omaclor);
  • drugs to protect the membranes of blood vessels from cholesterol – Misoprostol, Parmidin, aitamins with antioxidant effects;
  • drugs for high blood pressure;
  • means for the prevention of thrombosis (Aspirin-Cardio, Cardiomagnyl).

Additionally, the doctor may prescribe drugs that help eliminate unpleasant symptoms – headache, dizziness, tinnitus.

If the situation is severe, endovascular operations – balloon angioplasty and stenting – may be recommended.

Prevention of atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels in adults at home

The basis for the prevention of atherosclerosis is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You should:

  • review your daily routine and nutrition, reduce the amount of fast food, fatty, folding and high-calorie foods;
  • increase the amount of daily physical activity – a day should pay attention to sports, gymnastics, or at least walks, walking for at least 30 minutes;
  • fight overweight, if any;
  • protect yourself from stress, unrest, be outdoors more often;
  • regularly undergo medical examinations, visit a doctor, treat all health problems.

Popular questions and answers

Why do the vessels of the brain suffer, what is the danger of atherosclerosis and can it be completely dealt with? when you need to immediately consult a doctor and are dietary supplements useful? We asked about this cardiologist Tamaz Gagoshivili.

What are the possible complications of cerebral atherosclerosis?

Symptoms occur only when atherosclerosis is stenosing, that is, plaques must close the lumen of the vessel by more than 50%. But more often it happens that the patient does an ultrasound of the vessels of the brachiocephalic arteries and a small atherosclerotic plaque is found in them, which closes the lumen by 15-35%.

Is she dangerous? Yes! Even a plaque of 15%, which does not manifest itself at all, is potentially dangerous if atherosclerosis is not treated! It has a curdled consistency, is unstable and can burst at any moment and a blood clot will instantly form in its place, which will lead to a stroke.

Complications of cerebral atherosclerosis can be acute and chronic.

Acute complications include ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction). By the way, ischemic strokes are more common than hemorrhagic strokes – they make up 70%.

Chronic complications include chronic cerebral ischemia, which is manifested by memory loss, dizziness, insomnia and dementia (dementia).

If atherosclerosis of the brain is combined with such pathologies as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and a person smokes, all of the above complications develop many times faster!

When to call a doctor at home for atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels?

When did the first signs of a stroke appear? Everyone should know them, because the sooner an ambulance is called, the higher the likelihood that a person will survive.

The main symptoms of a stroke are described in English with the word FAST – for better memorization of the sequence of actions.

Face (face). Ask the person to smile – with a stroke, one corner of the mouth will be down.

Arms (hands). Ask to raise both hands – with a stroke, one will be weaker, or the person will not be able to control it at all.

Speech (speech). Ask a person to say their name or a simple sentence of a few words – the speech of a person with a stroke will seem strange and incomprehensible to you.

Time (time). For any of these symptoms, even if they were temporary and have already passed, you should immediately call an ambulance.

In addition, a stroke can also be accompanied by a severe headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, convulsions, dizziness, and general weakness.

Is it possible to treat atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels with folk remedies, dietary supplements?

I highly do not recommend treating dietary supplements or folk remedies! A person simply misses and wastes precious time using useless methods of treatment. There are no drugs, droppers, manipulations that clean the vessels. Including nootropics, which offer to drip every 3-6 months! They are useless against atherosclerosis of the brain!

Is it possible to completely remove plaques from the vessels of the brain?

If we take atherosclerosis of the common and external carotid arteries, surgical treatment is acceptable when the plaques of these arteries are more than 70% in size. But to completely get rid of atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels by the surgical method will not work.

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