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Cerebral infarction
Register in the neurology department for cerebral infarction.
Stroke is a very common disease in neurology. When registering at a hospital, you should definitely see a neurologist. Neurologists have rich experience in diagnosing and treating strokes. There are many causes of stroke, but the most common cause is atherosclerosis, and these patients usually have risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Acute onset of focal neurological deficits such as limb paralysis, numbness, and unclear speech are common clinical manifestations. In terms of treatment, antiplatelet medications and statins are typically used. Additionally, formal rehabilitation exercises are essential. (Specific medications should be administered under the guidance of a doctor, and self-medication should be avoided.)
Can a cerebral infarction be effectively treated?
Most cases of cerebral infarction can be treated effectively, except for some extensive cerebral infarctions, which may leave varying degrees of sequelae. During the acute phase of treatment for cerebral infarction, medications that promote blood circulation, improve circulation, prevent platelet aggregation, and anti-atherosclerosis drugs are used. If treatment can be administered within three hours of onset, intravenous thrombolysis can be performed, which may lead to a faster recovery if successful. Additionally, medications that eliminate free radicals are used during the acute phase to remove free radicals that damage brain cells. Other treatments involve the use of neurotrophic drugs to support the repair of damaged brain cells. After stabilizing the condition, active rehabilitation exercises are recommended, and most patients can be effectively treated.
Symptoms of cerebral infarction
Patients with cerebral infarction may exhibit paralysis of one side of the body and aphasia. If the patient has a brainstem infarction, symptoms may include unclear speech, difficulty swallowing, and coughing while eating. In cases of cerebellar infarction, there may not be symptoms of hemiplegia; the main symptom is usually dizziness. Additionally, large-scale cerebral infarctions can lead to disturbances in consciousness, manifesting as coma. Typically, cerebral infarctions do not affect consciousness unless they are extensive, which may also lead to coma. Moreover, patients with cerebral infarction often experience symptoms while resting quietly, commonly waking up in the morning to find themselves unable to speak or with paralysis on one side of the body, although their consciousness remains clear. These are typical manifestations of cerebral infarction.
What is the cause of swollen feet after a stroke?
Patients with cerebral infarction presenting with swollen feet and lower limb edema should be aware of the following reasons. The first scenario is due to reduced activity in the limbs on the paralyzed side, which results in weaker muscle contraction. Consequently, a large amount of blood accumulates in the lower limb veins, causing poor circulation and naturally leading to swollen feet. Therefore, it is crucial for patients to begin early rehabilitation training, engage in muscle massage, and perform passive joint exercises, among other activities. The second scenario that requires close attention is the formation of venous thrombosis in the lower limbs on the paralyzed side after a cerebral infarction. This condition can easily lead to venous thrombosis, which significantly contributes to foot swelling. Furthermore, it increases the risk of pulmonary embolism. It is important to complete routine coagulation tests and d-dimer examinations, as well as comprehensive lower limb venous Doppler ultrasound assessments.
What foods should not be eaten in the case of a cerebral infarction?
Stroke refers to the necrosis of brain tissue, causing a series of neurological functional deficit symptoms. The dietary requirements for stroke must be determined comprehensively based on the patient's own condition and underlying diseases. For instance, common risk factors for stroke include hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and elevated homocysteine levels, along with unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking. If the patient has hypertension, a light diet should be emphasized. If they have hyperlipidemia, fatty foods should be avoided in favor of a low-fat diet. In cases of high homocysteine levels, it is advisable to consume foods rich in vitamins. Additionally, if the patient has diabetes, they must adhere to a diabetic and low-sugar diet. Therefore, what food can be consumed depends on the patient's underlying diseases and the symptoms of the stroke. If the patient has swallowing difficulties, care must be taken to avoid hard foods as this could lead to choking and potentially cause a lung infection. Thus, the patient's individual condition must be taken into account when deciding their diet.
Treatment of Cerebral Infarction
As society ages, the incidence of cerebral infarction is also increasingly higher, making rational treatment extremely important. Generally, the treatments for cerebral infarction include the following methods: The first point is intravenous thrombolysis, which is a very important treatment plan. If patients can reach the hospital within the thrombolysis time window and are assessed by a neurologist as having no contraindications, they can undergo intravenous thrombolysis treatment, from which many patients benefit. Second, with the advancement of medicine, some patients can also undergo interventional surgery for arterial thrombectomy. Third, the treatment for most patients mainly involves the use of antiplatelet drugs and statins. Additionally, medications that clear free radicals and protect brain cells are provided, along with scientifically-based rehabilitation training.
Cerebral infarction X-ray manifestations
Brain infarction generally does not involve X-rays because X-rays primarily target bone issues, not brain tissue issues. If a brain infarction occurs, a cranial CT or MRI can be performed. In acute cases of sudden onset, a cranial CT is primarily used to exclude cerebral hemorrhage, as brain infarction typically does not show up in the acute phase. However, in cases of extensive brain infarction, changes might also appear on a CT during the acute phase. Additionally, after the acute phase, about 1 day or 24 hours later, brain infarctions generally appear as low-density shadows on a CT. On an MRI, in diffusion imaging, brain infarctions generally appear as high-density, high-signal areas, while they appear as low-signal areas in T1 imaging and high-signal areas in T2 imaging. It is also suggested to perform cranial magnetic resonance angiography to examine the status of the blood vessels.
How is lacunar stroke treated?
Lacunar infarction is a cerebrovascular disease. For lacunar infarctions caused by arteriosclerotic atherosclerosis, the main treatment is to prevent recurrence of infarction and dislodged plaques that cause blockages. Therefore, it is necessary to initiate treatments like aspirin, antiplatelet therapy, and atorvastatin to lower blood lipids and stabilize plaques. It is also important to control risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, as well as conditions like hyperuricemia and hyperhomocysteinemia.
Can lacunar infarction be treated?
Lacunar stroke is a type of cerebral infarction. It occurs due to long-term hypertension or other causes leading to arteriosclerosis in the small vessels inside the skull or other thrombus formations, leading to stroke. It is treatable, and the treatment is generally the same as for other types of strokes. Early on, depending on the patient’s condition, thrombolytic treatment can be chosen if it is within 4.5 hours from onset. However, if the symptoms are mild, the benefits and risks should be weighed. Treatment may also include antiplatelet therapy to improve circulation, lipid-lowering, and plaque stabilization. It is also necessary to tailor treatment to the individual patient and to further investigate whether there is significant narrowing of the vessels to guide prognosis.
Can someone with lacunar infarct work?
In cases where a lacunar stroke is discovered, it might be because symptoms have appeared, prompting a check-up that identifies the lacunar stroke. Such situations require proactive treatment; it is necessary to go to the hospital to decide when the treatment should end, after which one can continue working. If, however, a lacunar stroke is found during a routine physical exam without any symptoms, it might have been present for a while without causing any symptoms. In this scenario, one can continue working. However, regardless of the situation, it is advisable to further investigate the blood vessels to check the overall status of the vasculature.