An elder brother told Hua Zi that a lacunar cerebral infarction was found during a brain CT scan in the hospital. This result frightened him, and asked Hua Zi what to do, whether the lacunar cerebral infarction is a small cerebral infarction, will he be paralyzed in the future, and what should he do?
Hua Zi said, don’t worry too much. Lacunar cerebral infarction is different from small cerebral infarction, and it is different from true cerebral infarction. The treatment of lacunar cerebral infarction mainly depends on whether symptoms appear, so different treatment methods are selected.
I. Descriptive terms of imaging
Lacunar infarction, literally, looks like a type of cerebral infarction. But in reality, this is a descriptive term for imaging tests. It refers to the discovery of cerebral infarction-like lesions in the brain, but the size is very small, like a “lacuna”.
The cause of lacunar cerebral infarction is mainly blood vessel blockage. Small blood vessels branching from cerebral arteries become occluded, causing small infarcts in non-cortical areas deep in the brain.
At present, there is also a theory that age-related vascular degeneration and brain tissue atrophy lead to enlargement of brain tissue gaps, which can also be manifested in imaging examinations. Similar results for small infarcts.
2. Symptomatic and asymptomatic treatment is different
Most lacunar infarcts occur in non-functional areas of the brain, so symptoms are not present. Most people find “cavitary infarction” after having brain CT or MRI for other reasons. This kind of asymptomatic “cavity infarction” is closely related to aging and is different from true cerebral infarction, and generally does not require statin and aspirin for prevention.
However, some patients whose “cavity infarction” occurs in the functional area will experience limb movement disorders. The typical symptoms are weakened unilateral limb strength, or limb numbness and slurred speech. Symptoms such as choking and coughing when eating and drinking water. For symptomatic “cavity infarction”, the treatment method is equivalent to cerebral infarction, and preventive treatment with statin and aspirin is required to prevent recurrence.
Three, chronic disease control and smoking cessation can reduce risk
Aging is one of the factors of lacunar infarction. With aging, the possibility of atherosclerosis and degenerative changes in the human arterial system increases Larger, these are risk factors for lacunar infarction.
People with familial ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease have a significantly higher probability of “cavity infarction” in their offspring. For example, if a parent has a cerebral infarction before the age of 55, the risk of “cavity infarction” in their children will increase.
Age and heredity are uncontrollable factors, but the occurrence of cerebral infarction is also related to the “three high” chronic diseases, smoking, obesity and other factors.
Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and other chronic diseases can damage the arterial intima and induce atherosclerosis, so there are related chronic diseases People with pulmonary disease need to take regular medication under the guidance of a doctor, and control the relevant indicators within the normal range, which can reduce the occurrence of “cavity infarction”.
Smoking is even more harmful to blood vessels than the “three highs”, and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, so smokers should quit smoking. Obesity is a breeding ground for chronic diseases, cancer and other diseases. Those who are overweight should control their weight.
What everyone should understand is that statins, aspirin and other drugs are only used to prevent the recurrence of cerebral infarction. If the “cavity infarction” causes the symptoms of limb failure, the treatment method is equivalent to cerebral infarction, and rehabilitation exercises are required to effectively recover.
To sum up, lacunar cerebral infarction is different from real cerebral infarction. “Lacunar infarction” without symptoms only needs to control the underlying disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, for “cavity infarction” with symptoms, it is equivalent to cerebral infarction in treatment, and active medication is required to prevent recurrence. I am Hua Zi, a pharmacist. Welcome to follow me and share more healthy ways.