How is a cerebral infarction treated?

Written by Hao Li Bin
Neurosurgery
Updated on October 20, 2024
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The treatment principles for cerebral infarction include thrombolysis, anticoagulation, volume expansion, lowering blood pressure, and brain protection. The main goal is to improve the blood circulation in the ischemic area of the brain as soon as possible and promote the recovery of neurological functions. During the acute phase, patients should rest in bed as much as possible, enhance care for skin, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and excretion, and maintain electrolyte balance. If a patient still cannot eat 48 to 72 hours after onset, nasogastric feeding with liquid nutrition should be provided to ensure nutritional supply. The priority should be given to the patient's daily care, diet, and the management of other comorbidities. Since some patients with cerebral infarction cannot take care of themselves during the acute phase and may even have difficulty swallowing, without adequate nutrition, metabolic issues can arise quickly. In such cases, even the best medications can fail to achieve positive outcomes. Since cerebral thrombosis is the most common type of cerebral infarction characterized by high incidence, high mortality, high recurrence rate, and high disability rate, patients may experience mild hemiplegia or severe scenarios leading to loss of life. Therefore, lifelong medication is necessary to prevent recurrence, achieve secondary prevention, and ultimately reduce the recurrence of cerebral infarction.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Can people with cerebral infarction drink alcohol?

Patients with cerebral infarction should not drink alcohol. Although alcohol can have certain effects in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, the specific content of alcohol and its degree, as well as each person's tolerance, vary. While in some cases, certain components can promote blood circulation, this does not mean it always activates blood circulation. In fact, excessive promotion of blood circulation at times can even lead to cerebral hemorrhage and other changes in medical conditions, posing even greater risks to patients. Another point is that drinking alcohol can cause excitement, which may lead to increased blood pressure. If there are plaques or other impurities in the arteries, they might dislodge and lead to further exacerbation of cerebral infarction. Therefore, it is also advised not to drink alcohol for these reasons.

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Written by Shu Zhi Qiang
Neurosurgery
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How to rehabilitate from a cerebral infarction?

Brain infarction is one of the most common cerebrovascular accidents, accounting for about 65% of all cerebrovascular diseases. The types of brain infarction include lacunar infarction, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral embolism; sometimes it also includes cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Any type of brain infarction, or cerebral infarction, can cause certain neurological dysfunctions. Therefore, once the patient's condition is stabilized, it is advisable to actively consider rehabilitation treatments. These rehabilitation treatments mainly include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture rehabilitation, and physical rehabilitation therapy.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Cerebral Infarction

At present, there is no consensus on the specific causes of cerebral infarction. It is mostly seen in patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, where there has not been adequate control of the patient's blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. This can lead to significant increases in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Over time, this might result in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the patient’s blood vessels. When these plaques break off and enter the bloodstream, they travel with the blood flow and can lodge in the narrow vessels of the brain. This causes blockage of the blood vessel and leads to ischemia, necrosis, softening, and degeneration of the brain tissue in the affected blood supply area, ultimately causing a cerebral infarction.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Is it good to drink milk after a stroke?

Patients with cerebral infarction can drink milk, but it must be analyzed according to the specific condition at the time because patients with cerebral infarction often experience coma and accompanying dysphagia with coughing. In such cases, drinking milk is not a problem, but attention must be paid to changes in dietary habits. If necessary, a gastric tube must be inserted through the nose into the stomach for feeding to avoid direct oral intake, which can cause coughing, aspiration, and lead to pneumonia. Therefore, this point must be carefully considered. For ordinary people in daily life, a cup of milk a day is a very good choice because milk mainly contains protein and does not contain a lot of fat and sugar. For patients with cerebral infarction, this diet is very ideal. If fresh milk can be used in everyday life, it is more beneficial for promoting the patient's recovery.

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Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
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Symptoms of stroke worsened in the elderly

Elderly people who experience a cerebral infarction (stroke) may show several typical symptoms if the condition worsens. Firstly, their speech may suddenly become unclear, accompanied by a slight drooping of the mouth and drooling. Another symptom is difficulty in extending the tongue straight out, as it may not align centrally. Additionally, there may be weakness in the limbs. These symptoms indicate the presence of a new cerebral infarction lesion. In such cases, it is crucial to promptly go to the hospital for a head CT scan or an MRI to determine whether the scope of the stroke has expanded or if a new stroke has occurred.