Is a brain infarction dangerous?

Written by Guo Zhi Fei

Neurosurgery

Updated on September 10, 2024

00:00

00:00

The risk associated with a cerebral infarction primarily depends on the extent and location of the infarction. If the infarction is small and located in less critical areas of brain function such as the frontal or temporal lobes, the symptoms may not be severe and might only include dizziness and sleepiness. If the infarction is extensive and occurs in crucial areas such as the basal ganglia, thalamus, or brainstem, the symptoms can be very severe. This could potentially lead to hemiplegia, aphasia, and even coma or death.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Gao Yi Shen

Neurosurgery

1min 2sec

home-news-image

What is a cerebral infarction?

Cerebral infarction is essentially a manifestation of ischemic necrosis of nerve cells. However, in clinical practice, there are many factors that can cause cerebral infarction. It is essential to treat the underlying causes to effectively prevent the further occurrence and progression of cerebral infarction. One characteristic of nerve cells is that once necrosis occurs, they cannot regenerate. Consequently, all patients who suffer from cerebral infarction may have some residual neurological deficits. Mild symptoms include headaches and dizziness, while severe cases may experience numbness and weakness in the limbs, speech impairments, and even more severe conditions such as a vegetative state or death. Therefore, in the case of cerebral infarction, it is crucial to focus on prevention early on to reduce the extent of necrosis. This can effectively ensure one's safety and reduce the occurrence of various complications and sequelae.

home-news-image

Written by Tang Li Li

Neurology

1min 25sec

home-news-image

Can a cerebral infarction be cured?

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.

home-news-image

Written by Hao Li Bin

Neurosurgery

1min 32sec

home-news-image

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.

home-news-image

Written by Shi De Quan

Neurology

39sec

home-news-image

Is a lacunar infarct a minor stroke?

Lacunar stroke is, in a sense, a milder form of stroke. It may not involve complete paralysis of limbs or consciousness disorders. Such cases typically show symptoms of sudden large vessel blockage. However, it results from blockages in many small vessels and manifests in various ways. Additionally, it gradually worsens, displaying an increasing range of symptoms including cognitive impairments, dementia, unstable gait, slurred speech, and dysarthria. These symptoms significantly affect the quality of life, so it can be considered not mild.

home-news-image

Written by Liu Dong Yang

Neurosurgery

50sec

home-news-image

Can a cerebral infarction recover?

Most patients who experience a stroke have relatively good recovery after active treatment and rehabilitation exercise, but very few patients can recover to the physical state they were in before the stroke. This is mainly because after the stroke, brain cells are damaged due to ischemia and hypoxia. Since brain cells are non-regenerative tissues, it is difficult for them to regenerate once they are damaged. The function of the damaged brain cells is mainly compensated by the undamaged brain neurons. Therefore, even with active treatment, it's not possible to return to a completely normal state. However, even so, it is still crucial to actively pursue treatment and rehabilitation exercises after a stroke, as these can significantly reduce the disability and mortality rates caused by the stroke.