Is lacunar infarction dangerous?

Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Lacunar stroke is caused by pathological changes in some small blood vessels inside our skull, due to long-term hypertension or other factors, such as diabetes or immune factors, leading to the occlusion of the vessel lumen and the formation of small infarct lesions. Therefore, when these lesions appear, there may be symptoms, or there may be no symptoms; however, regardless of the situation, the prognosis is generally good. It is also necessary to assess the blood vessels to see if there are any major vascular abnormalities. If major vascular abnormalities are present, it could still be dangerous. If the abnormalities are confined to small vessels, the prognosis is generally good.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Do you need to take medication for a long time for cerebral infarction?

Brain infarction generally requires long-term medication, and the specific medications to be taken can vary from person to person. Moreover, the choice of medication should be determined by a doctor based on the patient's condition and past risk factors. Brain infarction is a disease caused by multiple factors, with common causes including hypertension. In the case of hypertension, the choice of antihypertensive medication and the duration of treatment should be based on the patient's blood pressure to maintain it within a normal range. There is also a possibility that the condition is due to diabetes, as some diabetic patients are also prone to brain infarction. Such patients may need to use long-term antidiabetic drugs or insulin to control blood sugar. Additionally, antiplatelet medications might be necessary for brain infarction, but whether to use them should also be determined by the doctor based on the patient's specific circumstances. Since medications can have side effects, a comprehensive decision must be made on what drugs to use. (Note: The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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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.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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How should aspirin be taken for cerebral infarction?

Aspirin should be taken for cerebral infarction. It can be used not only during the acute phase of cerebral infarction but also for secondary prevention treatment. If a patient suffers a cerebral infarction, thrombolytic interventional surgery can be conducted during the acute phase window. If the patient has missed the time for surgery, then choosing antiplatelet drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel, along with atorvastatin for lipid regulation and stabilizing plaques, is advisable. A follow-up CT should be done dynamically, and changes in the patient's consciousness and pupils should be monitored.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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The dangers of staying up all night for cerebral infarction

The dangers of staying up late for those with cerebral infarction are significant. Staying up late can easily lead to an increase in blood pressure, which can damage the inner lining of blood vessels, cause cerebral arterial atherosclerosis, and easily lead to ischemic and hypoxic injuries in the brain tissue, resulting in new or aggravated cerebral infarctions. Long-term staying up late can reduce the ejection fraction of the heart, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply, and easily trigger cerebrovascular diseases. For patients with cerebral infarction, it is generally advised to have regular living habits, avoid staying up late, wake up on time, and also participate in appropriate physical exercise.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Is a cerebral infarction a stroke?

Brain infarction is a type of stroke, and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), stroke is categorized as an illness, differentiated as external and internal wind. External wind, as discussed in "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases," occurs due to external evil invasions, also referred to as the Gui Zhi soup proof. Internal wind belongs to diseases caused by internal injuries, also termed brain stroke or sudden stroke. Commonly, stroke refers to the type caused by internal injuries involving disorders such as the chaos of qi and blood, obstruction of cerebral vessels, or blood overflow in the brain. It is a cerebral neurological disease identified mainly by sudden fainting, hemiplegia, numb limbs, difficult speech, facial distortion, and unilateral numbness. This condition is characterized by a sudden onset, rapid changes, and is akin to the pathogen of wind favoring rapid and multiple changes. The type of stroke discussed here is akin to a brain stroke. Brain infarction refers to the obstruction in a brain artery caused by various emboli such as intracardiac mural thrombi, atherosclerotic plaques, tumor cells, fibrocartilage, or air traveling with the bloodstream. When collateral circulation fails to compensate, it leads to ischemic necrosis of the brain tissue in the supplied area, causing focal neurological deficits. Cerebral hemorrhage, on the other hand, refers to bleeding within the brain tissue not caused by trauma but due to the rupture of intracerebral vessels. Both cerebral hemorrhage and brain infarction often result in varying degrees of motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and speech and swallowing difficulties, collectively referred to in stroke cases. Hence, brain infarction is considered a type of stroke.