Can lacunar infarction be treated?

Written by Li Min
Neurology
Updated on May 02, 2025
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Lacunar stroke, also known as lacunar infarction, refers to a type of brain infarction where the diameter of the affected area ranges from 2 millimeters to 15 millimeters. It is treatable, typically caused by atherosclerosis of cerebral arteries leading to ischemia and hypoxia in small capillaries, and subsequently, localized tissue necrosis. These usually occur more frequently beneath the cortical layer of brain tissue, as this area has a dense distribution of small blood vessels and is thus more prone to lacunar infarcts. However, if a lacunar infarct occurs in critical areas such as the thalamus, brainstem, basal ganglia, internal capsule, or the limbs and knee regions within the internal capsule, it can lead to a variety of clinical symptoms. The range and types of these clinical symptoms are diverse, including pure sensory, pure motor, mixed sensorimotor numbness in limbs, and issues with peripheral circulation. Though generally, treatment is relatively quick and straightforward, delays in treatment could lead to more severe clinical symptoms.

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Causes of Cerebral Infarction

The first reason is due to arteriosclerosis. Under the influence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, damage occurs to the inner lining of the arteries. A large amount of lipid components are deposited on the arterial walls, eventually forming unstable plaques, leading to the narrowing and even occlusion of the cerebral arteries, thus causing the formation of cerebral thrombosis. The second reason to consider is cardiac causes; if a patient has atrial fibrillation, mural thrombi can form within the heart. These thrombi, once dislodged into the cerebral arteries, can cause cerebral embolism. The third point to note is arterial dissection, which is also a cause of cerebral infarction, and it is relatively common among young people.

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Can people who have had a cerebral infarction eat mutton?

Patients with cerebral infarction can appropriately consume mutton, but it depends on the specific condition of each individual. It is advised that those in the acute phase with internal phlegm-heat refrain from eating mutton. However, during the recovery or post-stroke phase, if the patient is weak, malnourished, and shows symptoms of yang deficiency, consuming mutton is appropriate as it is warm in nature and can nourish the kidney and yang, and warm and strengthen the body. Nevertheless, it is important to consume it in moderation to avoid excessive internal heat.

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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.

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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.

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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.