Sequelae of lacunar infarction

Although lacunar infarction is not a serious type of cerebral infarction, it is easily ignored because of its relatively small harm to the human body. However, if the disease is not treated promptly or thoroughly, it may leave permanent sequelae. In fact, about three-tenths of patients with lacunar infarction will have sequelae of varying degrees. So what sequelae will patients with lacunar infarction have? Let’s take a look together.

1. Concept

Lacunar infarction refers to the small penetrating arteries in the cerebral hemisphere or deep in the brainstem. On the basis of long-term hypertension, the vascular wall becomes diseased, leading to occlusion of the lumen and formation of small infarction foci. According to statistics, its incidence rate is quite high, accounting for 20% to 30% of cerebral infarction. Common sites of disease occurrence include the putamen, caudate nucleus, internal capsule, thalamus and pons, with a few located in the corona radiata and subependymal zone.

2. Causes

1. Hypertension The incidence of hypertension in patients with lacunar infarction is 45% to 90%.

2. Arteriosclerosis

3. Diabetes Diabetes is associated with multiple lacunar infarctions, but not single ones.

4. Embolism

(1) Cardiac embolism (2) Arterial embolism

5. Other factors

Factors such as hyperlipidemia, hyperviscosity, smoking, drinking and changes in local cerebral blood flow also affect the occurrence of lacunar cerebral infarction.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include dizziness, headache, limb numbness, vertigo, memory loss, slow reaction, convulsions, dementia, unconsciousness, and mental symptoms are rare. The main clinical signs are tongue stiffness, slowed speech, changes in voice tone, mild central facial paralysis, hemiparesis or sensory impairment, some positive pyramidal tract signs, and rare ataxia.

IV. Hazards

Lacunar infarction is a type of cerebral infarction. It is just because the occluded blood vessel is smaller, such as a perforating artery, and is limited to its smaller blood supply area, the lesion is smaller, so the harm is generally smaller. However, if treatment is not timely, it will also leave sequelae. Such as: dizziness, headache, limb numbness, speech impairment, language disorder, limb dysfunction, incomplete eyelid closure on the affected side, drooping corners of the mouth, inability to frown, close eyes, puff cheeks, or whistle.

5. Prevention

1. The blood pressure of hypertensive patients should be controlled at a reasonable level. Because high blood pressure can easily cause rupture and bleeding of microaneurysms and atherosclerotic arteries in the brain, while low blood pressure can easily cause incomplete blood supply to the brain and stagnation of microcirculation, which can easily lead to cerebral infarction. Therefore, various factors that cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, slow cerebral blood flow, increased blood viscosity, and increased blood coagulation should be prevented.

2. Pay attention to mental health. Many cases of cerebral infarction are related to emotional excitement.

3. Develop good living habits and moderate physical activities are good for health. Avoid bad habits such as smoking, alcoholism, overeating and binge drinking. Mainly follow a low-fat, low-calorie, low-salt diet.

4. Middle-aged and elderly people, especially those who are weak and sick, should be particularly careful about sudden changes in temperature, significant changes in air pressure and temperature, and severe cold and hot summer seasons to avoid illness.

5. Pay attention to the precursors of cerebrovascular disease, such as sudden dizziness, shaking; sudden numbness on one side of the face or upper or lower limbs, weakness, crooked mouth, drooling; short-term confusion or drowsiness, etc.