BRAIN ISCHEMIA: What is it, Causes, Symptoms, Consequences and Treatment

Cerebral ischemia, also called ischemic cerebrovascular disease, is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. It is a complex and dynamic phenomenon. If you want to know more about this complex disease, do not hesitate to continue reading this Psychology-Online article: cerebral ischemia: what is it, causes, symptoms, consequences and treatment.

Index

1. Cerebral ischemia: what is it
2. Brain ischemia: causes
3. Cerebral ischemia: symptoms
4. Cerebral ischemia: consequences and consequences
5. Cerebral ischemia: treatment

Cerebral ischemia is a cerebrovascular disease produced by a decreased amount of blood flow found in the brain. It is a certain decrease in blood circulation that causes insufficient levels to be able to maintain a normal level of functioning and structure of the brain. In this sense, there are different types of brain ischemial, depending on the way in which this decrease occurs:

• Global cerebral ischemia: This type of ischemia occurs when the decrease in blood supply is total, that is, throughout the brain. In this case, this decrease occurs in the entire brain simultaneously, damaging both cerebral hemispheres.
• Partial cerebral ischemia: This type of cerebral ischemia, also called focal ischemia, does not affect the entire brain, but the decrease in blood flow is focused on a specific and specific part of the brain.

We found another classification of cerebral ischemia based on its duration:

• Transient ischemia: It is a variable ischemia, that is, it can be reversible and return to its previous state, leading to a disappearance of said disease.
• Permanent ischemia: it is a chronic and permanent ischemia over time, therefore, in this case, it is an irreversible disease.

The most common causes of cerebral ischemia depend on different characteristics, such as its location. However, regardless of these characteristics, some of the causes of cerebral ischemia most common are the following:

• Heart attack.
• Extracorporeal circulation surgery.
• Lacunar infarction.
• Blood clots.
• Plaques of cholesterol and lipids that clog cerebral arteries.
• Carotid dependent infarcts.
• Cerebral embolisms of cardiac origin.
• Prolonged shock (any condition of these characteristics, regardless of its etiology, can cause cerebral ischemia).

These causes and many more, can lead to this cerebrovascular disease. However, it is also necessary to emphasize that this cerebrovascular disease usually occurs more frequently in older people, since they tend to have higher risk factors. Some of these risk factor's that can become a cause of cerebral ischemia, are the following: tobacco consumption, malformations, trauma, high blood pressure, cholesterol, atherosclerosis, lack of nutrients, brain tumors, consume of drugs and addictive substances, previous brain injuries, heart problems, diabetes, and so on.

The symptoms of cerebral ischemia usually depend, above all, on the area of ​​the brain in which it occurs the decrease in blood flow, we must bear in mind that this decrease can occur in any of the parts of the brain.

However, the following are listed common and most common symptoms of cerebral ischemia:

• Dizziness
• Tremors / seizures.
• Headaches
• Appearance of hallucinations.
• Impairment of certain sensory abilities, such as blurred vision.
• Changes in personality
• Unexpected appearance of paralysis or numbness of one of the two halves of the face or body.
• Speech disorders.
• Alterations in muscle tone in any part of the body.

Cerebral ischemia can lead to death and the appearance of disability, from a cognitive deficit mild (deterioration of memory, attention ...), until becoming in a persistent and long-lasting vegetative state in the weather.

In the case of the consequences of cerebral ischemiaAgain, they depend on the specific area affected. In this sense, the involvement of cerebral ischemia in certain areas of the brain can generate manifestations such as paralysis of a part of the body (usually one of the entire halves of the whole body, also called the hemibody). Other consequences that cerebral ischemia can cause are facial paralysis, language disability, and so on.

Regarding the treatment of cerebral ischemia, it should be noted that knowing what are the causes responsible for the damage that cerebral ischemia has generated and, the fact Knowing its characteristics (affected area, etiology ...), it is essential to be able to decide which is the most effective treatment or treatments to treat the disease.

Thus, it is about finding the treatment / s that is directed to protect the affected brain tissue. Although various professionals assure that the most efficient and effective treatments are those that act, through pharmacological combinations, to promote neurorestoration, relying more on restoration than on protection. Understanding neurorestoration as the phenomenon that is intended relocate and modify the brain situation to restore it to its previous position.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cerebral ischemia: what is it, causes, symptoms, consequences and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Neuropsychology.

• Alonso, M. (2007). Neurological guide 8: cerebrovascular disease. Colombian Association of Neurology.
• Díez-Tejedor, E., Del Brutto, O., Álvarez-Sabín, J., Muñoz, M., and Abiusi, G. (2001). Classification of cerebrovascular diseases. Journal of Neurology, 33 (5), 455-464.