Precursors to cerebral infarction

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on August 31, 2024
00:00
00:00

For patients with cerebral infarction, before the onset of the illness, they often lack specific prodromal symptoms. Some patients may experience mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, and a clear feeling of discomfort. Additionally, some patients might experience numbness in the legs and involuntary twitching of facial muscles before the onset. Subsequently, some patients may also start to have drooping of the corner of the mouth to one side, drooling, slurred speech, and distinct articulation disorders. When these clinical presentations occur, it is necessary to be vigilant and seek timely medical attention at a local hospital. A cranial CT or MRI should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
44sec home-news-image

Precursors to cerebral infarction

For patients with cerebral infarction, before the onset of the illness, they often lack specific prodromal symptoms. Some patients may experience mild headaches, dizziness, nausea, and a clear feeling of discomfort. Additionally, some patients might experience numbness in the legs and involuntary twitching of facial muscles before the onset. Subsequently, some patients may also start to have drooping of the corner of the mouth to one side, drooling, slurred speech, and distinct articulation disorders. When these clinical presentations occur, it is necessary to be vigilant and seek timely medical attention at a local hospital. A cranial CT or MRI should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
1min 25sec home-news-image

Can a cerebral infarction be cured?

Stroke is the most common cerebrovascular disease. It occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the brain become blocked, leading to ischemic necrosis of the brain tissue in that region. This results in a series of neurological deficits. Theoretically, once a stroke has occurred, it cannot be completely cured because brain cells are non-regenerative. Once they die, they cannot be revived, and the function of the neurons in that area is completely lost. However, the significance of acute phase treatment lies in the rescue of the ischemic penumbra. The function of these cells can be restored after treatment, and thereafter, they may compensate for the function of the central necrotic area. Thus, patients who receive treatment may regain some neurological functions. Another condition is that the patient must be brought to the hospital within 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms. If there are no clear contraindications, RT-PA intravenous thrombolytic treatment can be administered. The success rate of this thrombolysis is relatively high, and about 30% of patients may be fully cured without any sequelae.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
58sec home-news-image

Causes of cerebral infarction

There are many causes of cerebral infarction, but the most common in clinical practice is the narrowing or occlusion of the carotid artery. Since the brain is supplied by four blood vessels, any issues with any of these vessels can potentially lead to a cerebral infarction. Conditions commonly known as the "three highs"—high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol—can easily lead to narrowing or even blockage of the blood vessels. Thus, these factors are fundamentally the cause. Additionally, smoking and drinking can also lead to vascular narrowing and cause cerebral infarction. In some special cases, autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation inside the vessels, leading to narrowing. Other causes include arterial tears due to trauma, which can lead to ischemia and infarction, or abnormal blood supply due to arrhythmias causing cerebral infarction.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
1min home-news-image

Causes of Cerebral Infarction

The specific causes of cerebral infarction are mostly seen in older patients with several underlying diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Over time, without well-controlled blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, arteriosclerosis can easily form within the blood vessels, or atherosclerotic plaques can develop. Once the plaque forms, under certain triggers, the unstable detachment of the vascular plaque can occur. The embolus then moves with the blood flow into the brain and lodges in a narrowed part of the vessel, causing local blood supply areas to experience narrowing or blockage. At this point, a cerebral infarction is likely to form, leading to ischemia, necrosis, and degeneration of the brain tissue supplied by the vessel, resulting in a softening lesion. On a cranial CT scan and MRI, a local low-density shadow can be observed, which is the specific cause of the cerebral infarction.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
51sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for a cerebral infarction?

When a patient suffers a stroke, it is advised to promptly visit a local hospital and consult a neurologist to assess the condition. Often, when an acute stroke occurs, treatment can be administered through thrombolysis. If the window for thrombolytic therapy is missed, conservative pharmacological treatment is recommended. Clinically, it is generally recommended to treat patients with medications that enhance brain function, promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and nourish the nerves. Patients’ vital signs should be closely monitored, and dynamic reassessment through head CT or MRI should be conducted to observe changes in the patient's condition. In cases of extensive stroke, it may be necessary to transfer the patient to neurosurgery for decompressive craniectomy surgery.