A stroke is a disease caused by a blocked blood vessel in the head.
Many cases require nursing care after contracting the disease, and early treatment is the key to avoiding sequelae.
In this article, we will introduce the causes, precursors, treatment, mortality and recurrence rates of cerebral infarction.
Please use it to protect yourself and your family.
table of contents
What is cerebral infarction
Cerebral infarction is a disease in which brain cells are damaged due to blockage of blood vessels in the brain. Brain cells die when they run out of oxygen and energy, and once dead brain cells never revive. The functions and sensations that the part was responsible for are lost and remain as aftereffects. However, with current medical care, if appropriate treatment is received within 4.5 hours of onset, there is a high possibility that sequelae will not remain. If you feel any precursory symptoms of cerebral infarction, be sure to consult a medical institution.
Causes of cerebral infarction
The cause of stroke depends on the type of:
Lacunar infarction: Occurs when a small blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked.
・Atherothrombotic cerebral infarction: developed when a relatively thick blood vessel is clogged by arteriosclerosis.
・Cardiogenic cerebral embolism: Clogging of blood vessels in the brain by a clot formed in the left atrium of the heart due to arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation.
Risk Factors for Stroke
Cerebral infarction has risk factors such as family history of cerebral infarction, male sex, and aging, but the following diseases and lifestyle improvements lead to prevention.
・High blood pressure
·Diabetes
・Dyslipidemia (hyperlipidemia)
・Atrial fibrillation
・Chronic kidney disease
・Hyperuricemia
・Smoking habits
・Drinking habits
·obesity
·Lack of exercise
・Excessive salt intake
·stress
·metabolic syndrome
Precursor symptoms of cerebral infarction
Cerebral infarction often occurs suddenly one day, but in some cases a transient ischemic attack appears as a precursor. A transient ischemic attack is a temporary manifestation of the following symptoms due to insufficient blood flow to the brain:
・Motor and sensory disturbances: numbness in either the left or right limb, inability to feel temperature or pain, dysphagia
・Visual impairment: narrow field of vision, loss of half of the field of vision
・Language disorder・・・I can't speak well, I can't use rhymes, I can't understand words
Balance disorder: dizziness, dizziness, difficulty walking
These symptoms are often overlooked because they subside in a few minutes, but they are a dangerous condition with a high possibility of causing a stroke. If you feel anything unusual, see a doctor immediately.
Treatment of cerebral infarction
It is important to start treatment for ischemic stroke as soon as possible after its onset.
Basically, treatment with drugs and rehabilitation, surgery and catheterization may be performed depending on the situation and cause.
cerebral infarctionHyperacute treatment
In the hyperacute phase up to 4.5 hours after the onset of cerebral infarction, a thrombolytic agent called alteplase (t-PA) is administered intravenously. It can dissolve the blocked clot and restore blood flow to the brain, which can dramatically improve symptoms.
cerebral infarctionAcute treatment
In the acute phase of cerebral infarction, treatment is performed with drip infusion of cerebroprotective drugs and microcirculation-improving drugs.
Treatment for chronic ischemic stroke
In the chronic stage of cerebral infarction, treatment and rehabilitation are performed to prevent recurrence. It is also necessary to provide treatment for lifestyle-related diseases and heart disease that need to be controlled, as well as guidance on smoking cessation and abstinence from alcohol.
drug therapy
・Antiplatelet agent: Prevents the formation of blood clots that cause cerebral infarction.
・Anticoagulant: This medicine inhibits blood coagulation caused by atrial fibrillation.
・Antihypertensive drug: In the chronic stage of cerebral infarction, it lowers blood pressure to some extent and suppresses recurrence.
surgery
・Vascular anastomosis (bypass): A surgery to connect a blood vessel to a part of the brain that is clogged and blood cannot reach.
Endarterectomy of the cervical internal carotid artery: This is a surgical procedure that cuts open the narrowed artery and removes the plaque that has accumulated inside. It is performed when carotid artery stenosis is severe and drug treatment is insufficient.
Cervical internal carotid artery stent・・・A treatment to eliminate vascular stenosis by placing a metal mesh cylinder called a stent in the stenosed artery.
rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is performed if the aftereffects of the stroke remain. It is said that if rehabilitation is carried out as soon as possible, it will be easier to obtain the effect of compensating for the lost functions of the living part of the brain.
stroke mortality
Because many cases of cerebral infarction are detected before they become fulminant, the mortality rate is kept to about 10%. However, many sequelae remain, and early treatment is important.
Stroke recurrence rate
Cerebral infarction has a very high recurrence rate, with a 1-year recurrence rate of about 10%, a 5-year recurrence rate of about 35%, and a 10-year recurrence rate of about 50%.
It tends to become more severe as the number of times increases, and it is important to try to prevent recurrence.
Cerebral infarction summary
In this article, we will introduce you to cerebral infarction.
No return of function or sensation lost due to cerebral infarction
・Prognosis is better if treated within 4.5 hours of onset
・Improvement of disease and lifestyle leads to prevention of cerebral infarction
・If you have numbness in your hands and feet, dizziness, speech disturbance, etc., an aura symptom is suspected.
・The mortality rate of cerebral infarction is about 10%
・The 10-year recurrence rate of cerebral infarction is about 50%
If you suspect that you are having a stroke, seek medical attention immediately.
On the other hand, the technology of "regenerative medicine", which uses autologous stem cells to alleviate the burden on the body and treat it, is also progressing, so it is recommended for those who want to work on stroke prevention.
Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that does not place a burden on the body.The number of cases has exceeded 8,000 in Japan and overseas, and it has also acquired the "GCR: Global Clinic Rating" certification, which is proof that it has exceeded international standards. We are here.
"I'm curious, but I can't decide if prevention is really necessary now." You may be at risk of wandering life and death without realizing it, so Please feel free to contact us.
・Inquiry form (LINE, We Chat, email support):https://stemcells.jp/contact/
[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient] 03-3400-2277
(If you look at the article and let me know that you want to receive free counseling, I will guide you)
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda