Can a cerebral infarction be cured?

Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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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.

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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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How is a cerebral infarction treated?

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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Brain infarction belongs to which department?

Brain infarction is usually classified as a neurology disease. Patients with brain infarction often exhibit clear symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and significant swallowing dysfunction, leading to coughing while drinking. Some patients may also experience facial nerve paralysis to some extent, manifesting as unclear speech, difficulty speaking, and articulation disorders. When the aforementioned clinical symptoms occur, the possibility of brain infarction is considered high. Performing a cranial MRI scan for patients can help determine the specific location, number, and severity of the infarction. Generally, it is recommended to treat patients with brain infarction during the acute phase with drugs that enhance brain function, nourish the nerves, and promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and many patients can achieve satisfactory treatment results. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Can cerebral infarction be cured completely?

Stroke is not a disease that can be completely cured. Instead, the goal of treatment is to prevent further occurrences and developments of stroke, and there is also the potential for some relative improvement later on. This is considered a very good treatment goal. In the case of stroke, it involves the ischemic necrosis of nerve cells. Additionally, nerve cells have a characteristic that once they die, they cannot regenerate. Therefore, in clinical practice, there are no treatments available that can promote the regeneration of nerves. Treatment can only compensate for the functions of the surrounding healthy nerves to take over the functions of the dead nerves. However, this compensatory process is very slow, often taking two to three months to show significant progress. Hence, it is necessary to continue active rehabilitation exercises later to promote the formation of this compensatory mechanism.

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What location is used for moxibustion in the treatment of cerebral infarction?

For patients with cerebral infarction, it is usually recommended during the acute phase to conduct a cranial MRI to determine the location and severity of the stroke and to decide the next treatment plan. If surgery is indicated, treatment can be administered through intravenous thrombolysis. If surgery is not indicated, or the optimal treatment time has been missed, it is recommended that the patient be hospitalized for treatment. During the acute phase, medications that invigorate the brain and improve blood circulation while nourishing the nerves are administered, and it is important to monitor any changes in the patient's condition. The effectiveness of moxibustion in treating cerebral infarction is generally moderate. During the recovery phase, patients can try moxibustion, but it is generally advised to seek treatment under the guidance of a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician at a reputable tertiary hospital.