Cerebral Ischemia In Newborns - Symptoms And Consequences Of 1, 2 And 3 Degrees

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Cerebral ischemia in newborns

Content:

• What is cerebral ischemia?
• Cerebral ischemia symptoms
• Causes of cerebral ischemia
• Cerebral ischemia
• Cerebral ischemia in newborns
• Treatment of ischemia in newborns

What is cerebral ischemia?

Cerebral ischemia is a disease that develops due to a lack of oxygen, which is necessary for the brain to function. It can be congenital and chronic. The first form is found in young children. Chronic cerebral ischemia is characteristic of elderly people.

Hypoxia occurs when blood clots or atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This process is accompanied by changes in blood pressure in the large arterial trunks and arterioles. If it increases sharply, the vascular walls are destroyed and become saturated with plasma proteins. This leads to the proliferation of connective tissue. It fills the lumen of the vessel, causing it to narrow. Blood circulation is difficult. A complete blockage prevents blood from delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells. This is fatal.

Cerebral ischemia symptoms

The first signals indicating cerebral ischemia are rapid fatigue during mental work, forgetfulness. Elderly people often do not consider this a sign of a serious illness, given their age. But if memory deteriorates sharply, you should see a doctor. Patients with cerebral ischemia suffer from persistent headaches.

As the disease progresses, falls and fainting, dizziness are possible. There is a sharp increase in blood pressure, nausea, turning into vomiting. In the later stages of cerebral ischemia, vision and hearing are impaired. The patient is incapable of work and mental activity, self-service. He loses sleep, cannot perform complex movements, suffers from instability when walking.

The acute form of cerebral ischemia is a stroke. It has a focal character and occurs when a plaque inside a vessel ruptures and clogs the lumen. As a result of thrombosis, blood ceases to flow to the brain, which is why tissue necrosis, that is, ischemic stroke, is inevitable. After it, deep neurological disorders occur: sensitivity and the ability to move independently may disappear.

Diagnosis of cerebral ischemia is carried out on the basis of visible symptoms, as well as on the basis of the study of cerebral and sensory function. A survey of the patient and his relatives is carried out, since patients in the later stages of the disease often suffer from dementia and memory loss. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are needed to examine the cerebral cortex. The results of the procedures allow the doctor to see the changes that have occurred in it.

Causes of cerebral ischemia

Atherosclerosis

This condition is considered chronic and affects the large blood vessels in the body. Deposits of cholesterol accumulate on their walls, forming atherosclerotic plaques. They are capable of increasing in size and can either significantly reduce the blood flow, or completely close the lumen of the vessel. Mostly men suffer from atherosclerosis.

Its development is promoted by unhealthy diet, smoking, obesity, frequent stress and diabetes mellitus. Treatment of atherosclerosis requires not only taking medications, but also moderate physical activity, adherence to a diet. Foods containing cholesterol and fats should be excluded from the diet.

It is they that cause clogging of blood vessels, deposited in the form of atherosclerotic plaques. Blood, moving through the arteries, can carry particles of such neoplasms. They get stuck in narrow parts of the vessel and stop blood circulation.

Patients with atherosclerosis are advised to give up fried and fatty foods, red meat, and alcohol. It is recommended to eat wholemeal bread, cereals, foods containing omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to maintain a healthy weight, as obesity is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Arterial hypertension

This is what medicine calls an increase in blood pressure. This disease cannot be completely cured. However, it is necessary to constantly keep blood pressure under control in order to prevent various complications, including cerebral ischemia.

As in the case of atherosclerosis, men are more likely to suffer from arterial hypertension. Risk factors also include old age, a large amount of stress, bad habits and obesity.

An increase in blood pressure may not be accompanied by visible external signs and changes in the patient's well-being. In this case, it can be determined using a tonomer. Sometimes a sharp increase in pressure is accompanied by dizziness and headaches. Some patients notice the appearance of red dots before the eyes.

To prevent a sharp increase in blood pressure, you need to do exercises daily, reduce the consumption of salt, semi-finished products, sweets. If you have excess weight, you should get rid of it. The diet must contain foods rich in potassium. It is important to visit your doctor regularly and monitor your blood pressure.

Cerebral vasculitis

The disease is non-infectious in nature and manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the blood vessels. This causes them to narrow and develop coronary artery disease. The exact causes of vasculitis are not known and can occur at any age. Manifested by severe headaches, leg cramps, hearing or visual impairment. In the early stages of development, vasculitis can be confused with neoplastic diseases. It progresses quickly, and it is very difficult to cope with it, largely due to the difficulties in diagnosis. A biopsy allows you to accurately determine the presence of this disease, but most often it turns out to be impossible due to the threat of hemorrhage.

The causes of cerebral ischemia include pathologies and vascular anomalies, rheumatism, but they are of secondary importance. The risk group includes patients with diabetes mellitus, the elderly. Smoking provokes the formation of plaques in blood vessels, since cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and nicotine. Tachycardia, bradycardia, acute heart failure, increased blood viscosity caused by erythrocytosis or anemia - all this also contributes to the development of cerebral cerebral ischemia in adults.

Cerebral ischemia

Cerebral ischemia 1 degree

At this stage, the symptoms of the disease are mild. The patient suffers from headaches, heaviness in the head, gets tired quickly and experiences general weakness. Sleep is disturbed, hearing, vision and memory problems are possible. The disorders are stable, but the formation of syndromes has not yet occurred. This allows you to reduce the manifestation of symptoms or eliminate them altogether, like the disease in general. The changes relate to the patient's psychological state: emotional lability is possible, that is, a quick change in mood without any reason.

Cerebral ischemia grade 2

Asthenic symptoms are less common. Stage 2 of cerebral ischemia is characterized by loss of memory and ability to work. The patient experiences constant weakness, dizziness, may experience difficulty in performing the simplest movements, for example, when walking. Vision problems appear, reflexes of oral automatism, convulsions are disturbed. The duration of the periods during which violations are manifested increases.

Pathological reflexes are reflected in intellectual-mnestic disorders. This means that mental work becomes impossible for the patient. As in the case of cerebral ischemia of the 1st degree, the patient experiences psychological difficulties, emotional lability progresses.

Cerebral ischemia grade 3

At this stage, organic brain damage is observed. Patients often faint, are unable to perform simple actions on their own, and therefore need help. Circulatory disturbance manifests itself in the form of "minor strokes" or progressive "complete stroke". At 3 degrees of cerebral ischemia, dementia is possible, that is, dementia.

Patients have reduced cognitive ability, they can no longer carry out full-fledged intellectual activity. In addition, patients experience memory problems. This causes a sharp decline in their quality of life and social adaptation. Violation of gnosis and praxis, which are one of the main functions of the brain, leads to the inability to navigate in space, recognize familiar objects and perform complex motor acts.

Cerebral ischemia in newborns

Congenital cerebral ischemia in children develops due to hypoxia during childbirth or pregnancy. The risk of oxygen deficiency increases with the age of the mother. In young girls, the risk of cerebral ischemia in children is slightly lower than in women after 30.

However, this factor is not decisive. An important role is played by the presence of various diseases in the mother, for example, diabetes mellitus, taking various medications during pregnancy. The competent work of doctors during childbirth, when there is a danger of a lack of oxygen, allows the development of cerebral ischemia to be prevented.

In accordance with the degree of the disease, various symptoms are distinguished. In the early stages, cerebral ischemia manifests itself in the form of increased oppression or arousal of the child. Grade 1, which is considered the easiest, is diagnosed most often. As a rule, the disease goes away some time after birth. Cerebral ischemia of the 2nd degree is characterized by more serious brain lesions.

Loss of appetite and frequent mood swings can also be a reason for contacting a neurologist. The child has dystonia, impaired psychomotor and speech development, motor activity. For example, when walking, he may stand on his toes. At stage 3 of cerebral ischemia, hospitalization of a small patient is necessary.

Treatment of ischemia in newborns

Cerebral ischemia of the 1st degree in children is treated with medication and with the help of massage. Often the use of drugs is not required. The main task at this stage is to restore blood circulation and provide conditions for the normal functioning of healthy areas of the brain.

At stages 2 and 3 of cerebral ischemia, treatment is carried out with the help of vasodilators. They are needed to improve blood circulation and restore normal oxygen supply to the brain. Nooropic drugs stimulate brain activity, and vitamins have a strengthening effect on the entire body.

Timely treatment of cerebral ischemia in children avoids many complications. The disease can cause headaches and irritability. The child has trouble sleeping, is often naughty. Children with cerebral ischemia are not capable of normal learning, are silent, suffer from scattered attention, and cannot concentrate on something for a long time.

Primary symptoms develop into epilepsy and mental retardation. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease during the first months of a child's life. The mild form of cerebral ischemia is effectively treated in a short time. In most cases, by the time of discharge from the hospital, the child is no different from other babies.

Massage, necessary to combat cerebral ischemia, helps to relax the nervous system, has a positive effect on muscles and the general condition of the body. It should be carried out by a doctor, since careless movements can not only not be beneficial, but also harm the health of the child. During the first year of life, it is recommended to carry out at least 4 sessions, the break between which is several months.

Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist

Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".