Cerebrovascular Disease

Cerebrovascular Disease – commonly referred to as a stroke, is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. This occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is either blocked or breaks open.

Causes

  • Blood clots
  • Abnormal heart valves
  • Endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart)
  • Diabetes
  • Family history of stroke
  • Heart disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Increasing age

Symptoms

  • Losing consciousness
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding others
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Difficulty writing or reading
  • Headache
  • Loss of coordination
  • Loss of balance
  • Movement changes
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Seizure
  • Vision changes

Diagnosis:

  • Electrocardiogram
  • Holter Monitor (24 hour electrocardiogram)
  • Carotid ultrasound
  • Echocardiogram
  • CT scan of brain
  • MRI scan of brain

Treatment Options:

  • Low fat diet like the Mediterranean diet or low carbohydrate diets
  • Aerobic exercise
  • Medication to lower and prevent high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood clots
  • Carotid stenting
  • Carotid endarterectomy (surgery to clean plaque from the carotid artery)
  • Physical therapy

Importance: can result in numerous complications that can interfere with quality of life

  • Decreased life span
  • Difficulty communicating
  • Permanent loss of brain functions
  • Permanent loss of movement or sensation in one or more parts of the body
  • Problems due to loss of mobility
  • Muscle spasticity
  • Reduced social interactions