Ischemic microstroke symptoms. How to determine a microstroke? What is a microstroke, its consequences and treatment

Today, a disease such as micro-stroke is rapidly becoming younger, the symptoms of which are increasingly found not only in middle-aged people, but also in young people and even schoolchildren. Therefore, knowing how to recognize this phenomenon and what needs to be done in this case will not hurt anyone.

What is a microstroke?

Because of the prefix “micro-,” many people, especially young people, tend to consider a microstroke not too significant and dangerous. In their minds, this disease is something like a cold in the brain, which can be carried on your feet, or in the worst case, you can rest for a couple of days.

In fact, in official medicine there is no term “ministroke”. There is a single diagnosis of brain disease - stroke, which can be either cerebral or focal. But in practice, doctors themselves often define the latter condition as a mini- or micro-stroke.

Everyone knows about stroke as a disease of middle-aged and older people. This disease leads to extensive damage to the blood vessels of the brain, disrupting normal blood circulation in it, which is immediately manifested by a malfunction of the body’s working functions - deterioration or even complete loss of vision, speech, partial or complete paralysis of the body, and often death. In Russia alone, more than 400 thousand strokes are diagnosed per year, and more than a third of them end in death.

A microstroke, like a stroke, affects the blood vessels of the brain, but the damage is not so extensive. Most often, small vessels are destroyed or areas of destruction are in the nature of small foci. This condition differs from a stroke in that its effect is fleeting - sometimes up to a day, but in the vast majority of cases it lasts several hours or even minutes, after which the damaged brain fully or partially restores all its functions. Therefore, often a person does not even notice that he has suffered a micro-stroke, especially since its signs can be mistaken for severe fatigue, the effects of depression or a general malaise of the body.

Due to the small degree of damage to the brain, the chances of a full recovery if diagnosed early and treated by doctors are assessed as very high. But only in the case when no more than 6 hours have passed between the destruction in the brain and the beginning of their treatment - this is the maximum period during which a violation of blood circulation in the brain does not lead to serious consequences.

But if treatment is neglected, the risk of a recurrence of a similar condition in the future increases significantly. And in 60% of cases, after suffering a micro-stroke, patients experience an ischemic attack of the brain. It is not uncommon for a person to have a stroke shortly after a micro-stroke (within 3 days). And if in most cases they are reversible, then the consequences of these two diseases are much more serious. But even if everything goes well, at first glance, you must also keep in mind that several such lesions in the brain can significantly reduce the overall level of intelligence.

Causes of microstroke

The reasons that provoke a ministroke may be different, but there are two types of diseases that doctors consider to be a provoking factor for a ministroke, these include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a blockage of the blood vessels supplying the brain, causing the brain to experience a constant lack of blood. It is enough to get too nervous to provoke a spasm of the blood vessels of the brain, as a result of which blood will not reach certain parts of it in time, provoking a micro-stroke.

Frequent attacks of angina or hypertension in a person also pose the risk of a micro-stroke.

have increased blood clotting and, accordingly, a tendency to thrombosis;
diabetic, since sudden surges in glucose in the body can provoke a mini-stroke;
you are overweight because its usual companion is hypertension;
have any type of cerebrovascular accident - hypertensive crisis, ischemic attack of the brain, etc.;
have a tendency to smoke, drink alcohol and other bad habits, lead a sedentary lifestyle;
are in a state of constant stress, overwork, or expose yourself to great physical exertion;
a close relative of people who have had a stroke or myocardial infarction.

Signs of a mini-stroke

Signs of the onset of this disease can be varied, and very rarely they occur all at the same time. As a rule, a person feels 3-4 symptoms. The first signs of a micro-stroke in a person begin with a headache, which is often easily tolerated and does not cause serious concern. At the initial stage, a person may feel causeless cold in the hands and feet, which does not go away for some time, weakness, numbness and partial loss of sensitivity in the fingers and toes, and the appearance of “goose bumps” on the body.

As the disease progresses, the headache intensifies, and the patient may become irritated by bright lights or loud sounds. Weakness, numbness and loss of sensitivity of the limbs increase, and in most cases this condition is asymmetrical in nature, i.e. more pronounced on one side of the body.

There may also be a partial or complete loss of control over facial expressions or incoordination of movement, and the appearance of vomiting. Hypertensive patients in this condition may experience a sharp increase in blood pressure.

Accompanying a micro-stroke that has already occurred are often blurred vision (a condition when a person is unable to look at an object with both eyes at the same time) and problems with intelligible, articulate speech.

But, having felt the symptoms of a micro-stroke in yourself or noticed its first manifestations in others, you definitely shouldn’t wait for them all to appear. It’s better to play it safe and call an ambulance even if you have 2-3 symptoms at the same time. The sooner a sick person gets into the hands of specialists who can provide him with qualified assistance, the greater the chance that the disease will pass without consequences.

Practice shows that those patients who were seen by doctors in the first 3 hours after a mini-stroke occurred, in most cases, completely restore their health. For those who were admitted to the hospital after 6 or more hours, the effectiveness of treatment is reduced by 2 times.

Elderly people need to be especially careful. Firstly, their risk of micro-stroke is much higher than that of young people and even middle-aged people, due to age-related wear and tear and congestion of blood vessels. Secondly, they, as a rule, have a whole bunch of diseases with similar external signs. Therefore, if even a slight incoordination of movements or an unusual state of the face appears (if the face begins to look like a frozen mask or unexpected grimaces appear on it), it is better to immediately undergo (or insist on undergoing, if you notice such signs in another person) a check with a therapist.

Treatment of microstroke

Treatment of a microstroke should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an experienced specialist, preferably in a hospital, where it is possible to undergo a full examination, establish the exact cause of the occurrence and develop the correct treatment strategy.

Home treatment at random in this case will not only be ineffective, but it can be deadly for the patient.

However, there are things that can and even need to be done before the ambulance arrives in order to provide first aid to the patient.

First of all, the patient needs to be laid down, making sure to place several pillows under his head. Then unfasten the belt and buttons that prevent you from breathing freely, and remove the constricting clothing. Ensure maximum fresh air intake by opening the windows and, if necessary, the door.

Be sure to measure your blood pressure. If it is high, then to reduce it, you need to dissolve it in water and give the patient effervescent aspirin to drink. If it is not in your home medicine cabinet, then you cannot use vasodilator drugs such as no-shpa, nikoshpan and the like, since they will lead to dilation of intact vessels, which will result in an even more severe lack of blood in the damaged areas of the brain. In this case, it is better to pour hot (but not scalding) water into a basin and lower the patient’s feet into it.

If the victim has lost consciousness, you should not give him anything to drink, otherwise water may enter the bronchi or trachea, only aggravating the situation. When vomiting, turn the patient's head to the side and wait until the vomiting ends, then thoroughly clean the mouth.

Prevention of micro-stroke

Since no one can say with certainty that a microstroke will pass, everyone can make sure that this does not happen. To do this, it is enough to change your daily lifestyle by introducing a number of preventive measures.

First of all, regardless of how you feel, you need to constantly monitor your own blood pressure. After all, it is high pressure and its sharp jumps that in most cases become immediate.

It is very important, especially if you are overweight, to balance your diet. This is not a strict diet, but reducing the amount of foods rich in fats, sugar and cholesterol helps to significantly reduce the risk of this disease.

It would also be useful to streamline your physical activity. For a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle, moderate physical activity and health-improving exercises are beneficial. And if your work constantly requires great physical effort, then you definitely need to find an hour and a half for rest and relaxation. Such changes will not only reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease, but will also help maintain all the muscles of the body in working tone.

No one can completely eliminate stressful situations from their life, but learning to react to them calmly and with a sense of humor is vital. You also need to streamline your daily routine and take care of healthy sleep so that your brain can fully rest at night.

And not the least important thing is giving up bad habits. Those. a full healthy lifestyle is the best protection not only from micro-stroke, but also from many other diseases. This is especially important for people over 40 years old, because no one’s health improves with age.

It is quite possible that one day, knowing what a microstroke is and how to act correctly if you discover its symptoms in other people will save someone’s life. Be healthy!

A microstroke of the brain is a disease that results in a transient circulatory disorder, as well as an ischemic attack of the brain. The symptoms of a mini-stroke are very similar to the symptoms of a stroke, but there are differences between them. All signs of a microstroke can last from a few minutes to 24 hours.

Causes of the disease

There is a misconception that a micro-stroke can occur in people over 45 years of age, but the risk of this terrible disease increases after 30 years of age. In addition, there are a number of diseases that increase the risk of developing an ischemic micro-stroke. These diseases include:

hypertension;
cerebral atherosclerosis;

Provoking risk factors for the occurrence of pinpoint hemorrhages in the brain are:

Age.
Obesity, overeating, excess weight, unhealthy diet, eating fatty foods in large quantities.
A job where you need to constantly sit, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of constant physical activity.
Alcohol abuse and smoking.
Meteosensitivity.
Presence of diabetes mellitus.
Excessive physical activity.
Stress and chronic fatigue.
A spasm of the small blood vessels that supply the brain, causing some cells to die.

Signs of illness

How to determine a microstroke? The first symptoms of a microstroke, which, as a rule, repeat the signs of an ischemic circulatory disorder of the brain, will help answer this question. It is easy to determine both of them; the difference lies only in the scale of the lesion, as well as the duration of the attack. For example, the symptoms of a mini-stroke may disappear after just a couple of seconds. In addition, it should be noted that the symptoms in women and men are almost the same, so there is no need to consider them separately.

Doctors, considering the symptoms of a micro-stroke, believe that if such signs do not subside during the first 24 hours, and are also characterized by visible consequences, it is necessary to speak about the development of a stroke.

Disorientation and sensitivity

The very first signs of a microstroke, in which it is necessary to provide assistance to the victim, are a feeling of weakness and loss of spatial orientation. This is especially dangerous when the lesion affects the carotid artery basins in the brain area. The danger increases with dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system.

Often the patient loses coordination and balance, as a result of which he cannot stand still. According to patients, they feel “cottoniness in the legs,” and there is darkening, double vision, or white “spots” appearing in the eyes.

Changes in speech functions

Also, the symptoms of a microstroke are characterized by problems with the functioning of the speech apparatus. The determining factor here is not only the size of the brain lesion, but also the nature of the lesion. In most cases, speech problems are observed in patients with disorders in the left lobe of the cerebral cortex.

The presented deviations can be recognized by the following signs:

Cotton tongue.
Dyslexia in writing and confusion of words in speech.
It is not possible to construct complex sentences, operate with verbs in the infinitive and nouns in the nominative case.
It is not possible to firmly hear and perceive words, or process information.

As a rule, the symptoms of a cerebral microstroke do not last long, and the deviations presented above may pass or become acute.

Changes in the musculoskeletal system and muscle function

Some of the surest symptoms that can be recognized by eye are immobility, paresis of the limbs or partial numbness, which rarely manifests itself in cramps of the legs, arms, and eyes. Since a microstroke affects a small focus in a local area of the brain, the deviations are one-sided.

In addition, when the focus of the disease is located in the vertebrobasilar region after a microstroke, the following deviations occur:

loss of static, dizziness, double vision.
numbness of one half of the facial muscles.
twitching of the eye muscles and darkening of the eyes.
feeling of nausea and vomiting.
severe cutting pain in the head.
paralysis of one half of the body.

Neuralgic and neurotic disorders

If we talk about memory loss after a micro-stroke, a state of inexplicable apathy, sudden mood swings, then all the signs can be attributed to the symptoms of a micro-stroke. In addition, amnesia is both transient in nature and characterized by a short-term period. This symptom is the difference between a stroke and a concussion.

Memory loss goes away on its own and rarely lasts longer than 5-6 hours. If memory loss is observed for a long time, then this is no longer a micro-stroke, but another, rather severe degree of the disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

After you have experienced all the symptoms of a microstroke presented above, you should go to see a doctor, who will send you for an examination to determine the condition of the heart and blood vessels. Such studies include:

Magnetic resonance diagnostics,
CT scan,
Angiography.
Dopplerography.
Echocardiogram.
Electrocardiogram (ECG).
Detailed blood test.

Treatment of microstroke

Unfortunately, many people do not seek medical help in time and suffer a mini-stroke on their legs. This is absolutely impossible to do, because with this pathology it is very important to provide timely medical assistance. Treatment can be effective only in the first three hours of the onset of characteristic symptoms. Hence, the sooner a person is taken to the hospital, the faster he will receive help, and, therefore, he will have a better chance of a speedy recovery.

If more than 6 hours have passed since the mini-stroke, then any treatment will be ineffective. To restore blood flow in the affected area of the brain, the following drugs must be used:

Vasodilators - Pentoxifylline, Xanthinol nicotinate, Instenon.
Angioprotectors are drugs whose action is aimed at improving metabolic processes and microcirculation in blood vessels; they reduce vascular permeability. These drugs include Bilobil, Tanakan, Nimodipine.
Antiplatelet agents are drugs that reduce the ability of platelets to unite and adhere to the walls of blood vessels. These are Dipyridamole, Aspirin, Ticlopidine.
Metabolic medications - Actovegin, Mexicor (Mexifin).
Nootropics are drugs that help increase the resistance of brain cells to aggressive influences, improve memory and mental activity. These are Piracetam, Vinpocetine, Cerebrolysin, Cinnarizine.

During the recovery period, the patient must:

massage,
breathing exercises,
physical therapy,
diet,
physiotherapy.

Very often, after transient cerebrovascular accidents, no noticeable consequences are observed. But some people experience the following consequences of a microstroke:

memory impairment,
decreased concentration,
absent-mindedness,
increased irritability,
depressive state
tearfulness or, conversely, aggressiveness.

There are situations when, over the next 3 days after a pinpoint hemorrhage, the patient experiences a serious ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

How to prevent the disease?

If you do not want all the symptoms of a microstroke to visit you, then you need to adhere to the following rules:

It is necessary to measure blood pressure regularly. It is also advisable to keep a special diary in which you note your morning and evening blood pressure readings every day.
Change your diet and remove fatty, salty and smoked foods from it. It is a salt-free diet that helps lower blood pressure. In addition, you need to fill your diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, beans and fish.
Forget about cigarettes. It has been proven that frequent smoking doubles the risk of stroke.
It is necessary to learn how to properly observe work and rest schedules, as well as develop stress resistance. Regular exercise and exercise every day will help you here.
You should constantly monitor your health and visit doctors regularly.

A microstroke is a very dangerous disease that disrupts the functioning of the brain, causing unpleasant and life-making symptoms. The presented illness must be treated immediately so as not to expose your body to various complications.

There is no official medical term “ministroke”. But this is what doctors call a cerebral stroke, accompanied by minor hemorrhages and minimal foci of necrosis. They are the ones who indicate the development of a pathological condition.

Despite the low degree of damage to brain tissue, treatment and recovery after a microstroke is no different from the treatment of the classic course of the hemorrhagic or ischemic form.

Treatment of microstroke

A microstroke, treatment and recovery after which is carried out according to standard protocols for all types of stroke, is a rather serious condition, so taking various groups of medications becomes a mandatory part of rehabilitation.

The following medications are prescribed for both men and women:

1. Thrombolytics. The drugs prevent the formation of blood clots and promote blood thinning. Taking drugs from the group of thrombolytics is an excellent prevention of the development of a recurrent stroke. Acetylsalicylic acid, Clopidogrel, and Ticlopidine may be prescribed.
2. Anticoagulants. Promotes blood thinning and prevents thrombosis. The most commonly used are Heparin and Fraxiparin.
3. Vasoactivators. They improve the functioning of the central nervous system, promote the expansion of vascular lumens, and also improve cerebral circulation. Propranolol and Pirroxan are prescribed for use.
4. Low molecular weight dextrans. Used for peripheral circulatory disorders and for decompensation of heart failure. Reopoliglyukin is most often prescribed.
5. Hypotensive. Medicines are intended to lower high blood pressure levels. In the outpatient period, they are prescribed according to indications. Captopril and Nicardipine can be used.
6. Neuroprotectors and nootropics. These medications stimulate metabolism and also improve the recovery processes of nerve cells. Improves the tone of vascular walls and blood flow. Taking drugs from these groups significantly increases the patient’s chances of a full recovery. Cerebrolysin, Piracetam, Semax are prescribed for use.
7. Medicines that improve metabolism and angioprotectors. They are used to restore the functionality of blood vessels, tone capillaries, eliminate swelling, and normalize the course of metabolic processes. The most frequently prescribed medications include Phlebodia 600 and Troxevasin.
8. Vitamin complexes. During the rehabilitation period, the patient must take vitamins.

Drugs prescribed for the treatment of microstroke are selected by the attending physician based on the general condition of the patient.

Recovery after a mini-stroke

Recovery after a mini-stroke should be carried out comprehensively. In addition to taking medications, the patient is advised to follow a diet and daily routine.

Important! If desired, a person can supplement drug therapy with folk remedies.

Diet

Recovery after a mini-stroke at home involves following the principles of dietary nutrition.

Products must undergo complete heat treatment. It is best to use boiling and stewing. Meals should be fractional - up to 5 times a day - in small portions. This will reduce the load on the organs of the digestive system and improve the absorption of nutrients.

During the day you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of water. A sufficient amount of fluid consumed accelerates the process of eliminating toxic substances.

List of permitted and prohibited products

After suffering a micro-stroke, the patient’s diet should contain the following products:

fresh vegetables and fruits;
lean meat;
cereal soups (based on buckwheat, oatmeal, rice) and vegetable broths;
porridge with milk;
fermented milk products are a mandatory group of products that should
be present in the diet of a person recovering from a stroke;
low-fat fish;
honey (recommended for daily use as it improves brain function).

The following must be completely excluded from the menu:

fried/spicy foods;
salinity, preservation;
pasta;
granulated sugar, confectionery;
tomatoes;
smoked meats;
sweet carbonated drinks;
coffee and caffeine-containing drinks (they can provoke a sharp jump in blood pressure and the development of a recurrent stroke).

Compliance with a diet is an important condition that significantly accelerates the healing process and prevents the development of undesirable consequences.

Advice! If a microstroke has caused complications in the form of disruption of chewing and/or swallowing, then food should be served in a liquid or puree consistency.

Phytotherapy

You can restore the body after an apoplexy (hemorrhagic stroke) using traditional medicine recipes.

It is recommended to perform self-massage of the affected arms/legs (movements should go strictly from bottom to top), and the cervical spine. The following types of essential oils are used for the procedure (the recommended number of drops is dissolved in 55 ml of any oil of plant origin, for example, olive):

Sage (7-8 drops). Improves nerve conduction, memory, local blood flow. It is advisable to combine the massage with the use of sage infusion - 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers, brew 210 ml of boiling water, leave for 60 minutes, drink 50 ml four times a day before meals. You can also take baths. The duration of bathing is 20 minutes, the course is 15 baths every other day.
Rosemary (5-6 drops). Improves local blood circulation, the mental state of the patient, normalizes the state of the nervous system, stabilizes blood pressure.
Thyme (6-7 drops). Used as an antidepressant and normalizes local blood circulation.

Advice! Before going to bed, you can light an aroma lamp using essential oils of lemon balm, geranium or lavender. They help calm the nervous system, making it easier to fall asleep.

Patients, including elderly patients, are allowed to practice taking herbal infusions and decoctions:

Mix the roots of wormwood (60 grams), peony (40 grams), black root (10 grams), motherwort herb (40 grams), cyanosis (40 grams), lumbago (40 grams). Pour a large spoonful of the mix with hot water (1.5 cups) and cook at low boil for 10 minutes. Let it brew for 20 minutes, filter. The infusion should be drunk throughout the day in several doses strictly before meals.
Wash pine cones (5 pieces), pour alcohol (210 ml) and leave for 2 weeks in the dark. Pour 1 tsp into weakly brewed tea. Take 1 time per day.
Pour 5 cones with water (510 ml) and cook after boiling for another 7 minutes. Filter. Take 50 ml after meals. To improve the taste of the drink, you can add a little honey to it. Course - 30 days. The break is 10 days, and the treatment can be repeated.
Pour dry peony roots (1 tsp) with vodka (310 ml). Leave for 7 days. Filter and drink 25 drops three times a day. The duration of the course is a full calendar month. The break is 10 days, and the dose is repeated.

Before starting home therapy, you should consult your doctor.

Mode

Rehabilitation after a stroke at home involves following a daily routine. A faster recovery can be achieved by maintaining stability in its schedule, i.e. getting up in the morning, eating and sleeping should always occur at the same time.

If a person’s work involves constant physical and psycho-emotional stress, then it is recommended to change profession.

After a mini-stroke, you must completely stop drinking strong and weak alcoholic drinks, as well as smoking. In addition, a person should undergo regular medical examinations at the clinic to which he is geographically assigned.

Advice! If you have the opportunity to go to a specialized sanatorium, then you should not refuse it.

The consequences of a microstroke are not as severe as in its classic course. And provided that all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, a person is able to fully recover.

Article publication date: 06/23/2017

Article updated date: 12/21/2018

From this article you will learn: what a microstroke is, how it differs from one, how to prevent it, identify the first signs in time and begin the necessary treatment.

Microstroke is a fairly conventional term that refers to an acute cerebrovascular accident in which areas of the brain experience oxygen starvation and die or become necrotic. The principle of any stroke or cerebrovascular accident is simple - a blockage occurs or that nourishes the brain tissue, brain cells die, and the person loses those functions for which the dead part of the brain was responsible (speech, hearing, vision, controlled muscle movement).

The main difference between a microstroke can be seen from the term itself - “micro”, or small. With this type of cerebrovascular accident, small arteries that supply brain tissue are affected, which is why a significantly smaller volume of brain tissue dies compared to a major stroke.

The consequences of such microscopic lesions are much less; a person can almost completely restore the lost function of speech, hearing or movement, but this requires excellent body reserves and persistent work on oneself.

The main insidiousness of micro-strokes lies in the blurred clinical picture - the first signs of a micro-stroke appear later and more slowly, so the start of diagnostic and therapeutic measures is significantly delayed. And the later specialized treatment for cerebrovascular accidents is started, the worse the results and prognosis.

Typically, a neurologist is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of any stroke. However, the first doctor to whom a patient with a microstroke turns can be a doctor of any specialty, depending on the nature of the patient’s complaints - headaches, visual impairment, interruptions in heart function, and so on.

Causes of microstroke

As we have already mentioned, the main cause of any type of stroke is some kind of obstruction to the flow of blood that carries nutrients and oxygen to brain cells. Conventionally, the reasons for such obstacles can be divided into three groups:

Vasospasm. This picture is most often observed in people with constantly high blood pressure - arterial hypertension. However, a stroke can also occur in a completely healthy person with constantly normal blood pressure due to stress, taking certain medications, dehydration, shock, and so on. A sharp stroke in such patients can cause both a microstroke and other types of cerebrovascular accidents.
Blockage of blood vessels. Violation of the lumen of the vessel impedes the flow of blood - oxygen starvation of the tissue occurs. Blockage of a vessel can occur with atherosclerotic or cholesterol plaque, thrombus, gas bubble, or, less commonly, bacterial screening, metastasis or foreign body.
Rupture of the supply vessel. Strokes formed in this way are called hemorrhagic. The blood spilled from the vessel not only does not reach its “destination”, but also permeates the surrounding tissues, aggravating the damage. The cause of a rupture of a vessel can be a surge in pressure, vascular atherosclerosis, head injury, disruption of the venous outflow from the head - for example, an attempt at strangulation.

Risk groups for developing the disease

Modern medicine has clearly identified patients whose health status and lifestyle significantly increase the risk of developing cerebrovascular accidents:

People with diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially heart rhythm disturbances and arterial hypertension.
Vascular atherosclerosis is the deposition of cholesterol salts on the inner lining of blood vessels - the formation of plaques.
Hereditary and acquired blood clotting disorders - antiphospholipid syndrome, polycythemia, Leiden factor defect, and so on.
Obesity and eating large amounts of fatty and sweet foods.
Diabetes.
Smoking and drinking alcohol in large doses.
Taking combined oral contraceptives by women.
The period of menopause in women, especially against the background of severe menopausal syndrome.
Strokes and heart attacks in the past.
Hereditary predisposition and family history.
Sedentary lifestyle – especially for bedridden patients.
Chronic fatigue, stress, emotional distress.

Symptoms of a microstroke

In this section, we will try to describe in as much detail as possible the first signs of a microstroke, so that the reader can assume the development of the disease in himself or others.

I would like to immediately note that in a microstroke, the symptoms directly depend on the location of the lesion and the caliber of the affected vessel feeding it. Simply put, the smaller the vessel, the less reliable the first symptoms of the disease.

Severe headache. Such a headache occurs or intensifies quite sharply, is not relieved by regular pills and does not go away after sleep or rest.
Numbness of the face, limbs, tongue. When a stroke occurs, it is often noticeable that the corner of the patient's mouth droops, the lip droops, and the eye closes.
Impaired functions of sensitive analyzers - hearing, smell and vision. The patient may complain of flashing "circles" or "floaters", blurred structures, white and dark spots, tinnitus, distortion or loss of smell.
Speech disorders – the patient becomes tongue-tied and speech becomes unclear. Unfortunately, such patients are often classified as “drunkards,” so help begins to be provided to them much later.
Numbness or complete failure of the arms or legs. Micro-strokes are more characterized by numbness of the fingers and hands, muscle weakness, unsteadiness and unsteadiness of gait.
To the listed typical symptoms, general complaints may be added: anxiety, sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, feelings of panic and fear.

These symptoms may be present in equal measure, or one may stand out. In any case, a headache that cannot be relieved with conventional medications, numbness and failure of the limbs or tongue, especially against the background of high blood pressure, is a reason to immediately visit a neurologist.

It is important to understand some of the complexity in defining concepts. These symptoms can be called a microstroke if such neurological symptoms persist for a day or more. Anything that occurs within 24 hours is considered an acute transient cerebrovascular accident, or TIA - transient ischemic attack. In fact, the line between all these concepts is very thin and is based rather on long-term consequences - that is, whether certain neurological symptoms will persist after 24 hours or not.

Diagnostics

The “gold standard” for any cerebrovascular accident is magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, of the brain. In the image, you can examine in detail all the structures of the brain and see the smallest - down to fractions of a millimeter - lesions. Using MRI, you can also monitor the dynamics of regression or “resorption” of pathological foci.

But MRI is a rare, inaccessible and extremely expensive research method, and performing it for emergency indications for any patient with a headache is extremely difficult and impractical. That is why there are a number of indicative tests, the results of which can be used to assess the need for this research method for a particular patient:

Examination by a neurologist with specific neurological tests to assess the patient’s stability, the condition of his muscles, reflexes, and pupils.
Measuring blood pressure and cholesterol levels - the higher these indicators, the higher the risk of stroke.
Determination of blood clotting - in the presence of certain tendencies to increase coagulation - hypercoagulation - there is a higher risk of blood clots in the vessels of the brain.

Initial diagnosis of stroke at home

I would like to pay special attention to pre-medical diagnosis of ischemic brain lesions. The first signs of a micro-stroke do not always appear in a medical facility; more often it happens at work, on the street or with family. It is important to know what indicative tests can be performed before contacting a doctor.

Smile. If you ask the patient to smile, the asymmetry of the mouth will be noticeable - one corner will be lower.
Speech - it is worth asking the patient to say a few simple phrases - for example, a proverb or a saying. Speech will be slower and unclear.
Movement. You need to ask the patient to raise his arms or legs. If there are cerebral circulation disorders, one of the limbs will lag behind or not obey the owner at all.

These tests, despite their apparent simplicity, are very effective and have saved the lives and health of many people.

Treatment methods

Ideally, the reason for starting therapy is the very first signs of cerebral circulatory disorders, but this happens very rarely. If there are vague symptoms of a microstroke, treatment is rarely started earlier than a day from its onset.

The main drugs for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders are:

Thrombolytics - this group of drugs hits the heart of blood clots - dissolves the blood clot and restores blood flow in the vessel (streptokinase, urokinase, alteplase and others). But the effect of thrombolytic therapy can be obtained only within 72 hours from the onset of thrombosis, but such drugs will kill the patient. It is important to clearly know what type of stroke you are dealing with.
Anticoagulants are a group of drugs aimed at preventing blood clotting and the formation of blood clots - heparin and its low-molecular analogues (fragmin, fraxiparin and others).
Disaggregants are agents that prevent the “clumping” of blood cells: aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, and so on.
Diuretics, especially mannitol, selectively remove swelling from brain tissue, preventing more severe complications - wedging of swollen brain tissue into the foramen magnum.
Antihypertensive drugs - use both “essential” drugs and constant, specially selected therapy during the recovery period.
Neuroprotectors are a wide group of drugs and vitamins to support brain cells during the recovery stage - antioxidant complex, B vitamins, magnesium, nootropics, and so on.

Types of drugs, their combinations and course of treatment are prescribed only by a doctor.

At the recovery stage, rehabilitation measures are extremely important - physical therapy, water procedures, physiotherapy, classes with a speech therapist and rehabilitation specialist, therapeutic diets, sanatorium-resort treatment. The more persistent and hardworking the patient is, the sooner lost brain functions will return to him and speech, hearing, vision, and muscle strength will be restored.

It is very important to undergo the treatment prescribed by your doctor, take blood pressure medications, and antiplatelet agents. It is necessary to follow a diet, give up alcohol and smoking, exercise, get enough sleep and walk a lot.

Prognosis for the disease

The consequences of a microstroke depend on the age of the patient, his initial condition, the diameter of the affected vessel and the volume of dead brain tissue, as well as on the speed of initiation of treatment and the quality of rehabilitation.

A microstroke most often implies a complete restoration of the health and quality of life of patients, but significantly increases the risk of a recurrence of an episode of circulatory disorders in the future. According to statistics, in approximately 60% of cases after a mini-stroke, a repeat ischemic attack occurs within a year.

That is why the key to health and quality of life is strict measures to prevent the disease, since each subsequent episode becomes more and more severe.

A microstroke is the same serious disease as a stroke, but with one difference: small vessels of the brain are damaged. During it, small pockets of brain matter are destroyed, so symptoms may be almost unnoticeable. It happens that a person does not immediately understand what happened, and this is the whole danger of the disease. After all, in a single case, relapses of the disease cannot be ruled out; they are more serious and carry much more dangerous consequences.

Types of strokes

Ischemic - blocking of the lumen of a vessel in the brain with a thrombus, spasm of the artery. This leads to disruption of brain trophism and death of neurons.

Hemorrhagic - bleeding in the brain tissue. May occur due to rupture of blood vessels due to internal or external causes.

It must be remembered that the disease does not develop on its own. It is always caused by certain unfavorable conditions, risk factors and concomitant untreated sores.

Factors predisposing to the development of the disease:

overweight, insufficient physical activity for a woman;
unhealthy lifestyle, constant stress, overwork, lack of walks in the fresh air, poor and short sleep, irregular work schedule, sedentary work, constantly sitting in one place without warming up;
bad habits and their abuse: alcohol and smoking affect everyone’s body differently, some need to drink several bottles before developing liver failure, others will get sick after the first drink;
Both the use of oral contraceptives and the pathology of pregnancy in a woman can cause unpleasant consequences;
previous heart surgery;
an unbalanced menu with excessive consumption of animal fats (this leads to obesity, and obesity leads to hypertension, which provokes a mini-stroke in a woman);
With age, the risk of micro-stroke increases; the older the woman, the greater the likelihood of developing the disease, especially for older people.

What diseases can trigger a microstroke?

Diseases of the cardiovascular system, their presence in close relatives. Research confirms the relationship between diseases in relatives and those who seek help, and if your parents had heart disease, try to lead a healthy lifestyle so that you avoid their fate. Myocardial infarction or cerebral atherosclerosis provides food for thought. When a heart attack is suffered on the legs, cardiomyocytes die, preventing the heart muscle from working at full strength, and atherosclerosis narrows the lumen of blood vessels, preventing normal blood flow.

Arterial hypertension - high blood pressure significantly increases the risk of developing a micro-stroke. Pressure can increase in cold climates and stressful situations. Even one hypertensive crisis in the history of the examined woman makes it possible to assume the likelihood of suffering a micro-stroke in the future.

Concomitant chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, renal failure).

A micro-stroke in women can be caused by vascular disease and the tendency of the blood to increase coagulation and thrombus formation. Think for yourself what will happen if a blood clot blocks the lumen of an important artery. This is what leads to strokes and such bad consequences.

Symptoms

Specialists working on this disease have identified the main 5 signs; if you or your relative feel at least 3-4, you need to urgently seek medical help. In the first hours, you can reverse the process and prevent it from affecting large areas of the brain.

Headaches or dizziness, possible single vomiting. Loss of static, the woman sees double.
Decreased sensitivity of some part of the body, impaired coordination of movements.
Short-term loss of consciousness, intolerance to bright light sources and loud sounds.
A sharp hypertensive crisis, perhaps appearing for the first time.
Numbness of an entire limb or part of it and the face, weakness in the legs or arms.

There may be additional signs of the disease that are not the diagnostic standard, but help complete the integrity of the clinical picture:

weakness, weakness, feeling of stupor and drowsiness. Memory lapses, the patient cannot remember anything for several hours, then memory returns;
short-term deterioration of vision or its complete absence;
problems in pronouncing words, a woman’s misunderstanding of speech addressed to her. The patient’s tongue seems to be “woolly”, she confuses words, cannot write something clearly on paper, speaks primitively, in the first person.

Consequences

The consequences of the disease depend on many factors. This includes the woman’s age when the attack occurred and the state of her nervous system at the time of the illness. Concomitant chronic diseases, body stability, severity of stroke and its etiology: ischemic or hemorrhagic are also taken into account.

In some favorable cases, a woman may not experience any consequences.

Hemorrhagic stroke usually resolves without consequences. Blood flow is restored within 2-3 weeks, leaving no reminders of the stroke. Its minor consequences are memory impairment, speech difficulty and impaired motor activity. There is also a decrease in a person’s concentration ability, and he cannot focus on something for a long time.

Mild mental consequences include the patient’s irritability, unreasonable aggressive attacks from a previously calm and balanced person, and distortion of cognitive functions. Sometimes it even reaches the point of dementia. Typically, such signs occur at an older age in people who have suffered several mini-strokes.

The consequences are more severe - discirculatory chronic encephalopathy and the risk of developing cerebral sclerosis. The most severe results of the disease are often born after cerebral ischemia, when large areas of the brain matter die.

It often happens that a stroke occurs not for the first time. With each subsequent course of the disease, the risk of relapse increases. Scientists studied people who had suffered a transient ischemic attack and came to disappointing conclusions: a third of the patients studied subsequently suffered a mini-stroke.

Treatment

Therapy is effective only in the first hours. If more than 6 hours have passed since the attack, it is unlikely that anything can be changed and help the patient’s body cope with the difficult situation.

It is necessary to use the following drugs that improve blood flow (vasodilators). These include Pentoxifylline, Instenon. It should be remembered that any of the listed medications should be taken only as prescribed by the attending physician.

Angioprotectors. They improve metabolism in the bloodstream and reduce the permeability of the vascular wall, which is necessary to eliminate possible complications of a stroke. This is Bilobil, Nimodipine.

Antiplatelet agents. Their action is aimed at thinning the blood so that additional blood clots do not form in the affected area. Examples: Aspirin, Dipyridamole.

Nootropic drugs. They improve cerebral circulation and increase the resistance of nerve cells to external influences. These are Piracetam, Phenibut, Cerebrolysin.

Rehabilitation

In order for recovery to proceed as quickly as possible, doctors recommend a list of recreational activities.

Massaging the affected limb or area of the body helps speed up the return of motor activity and sensitivity of skin receptors. Breathing exercises make us calmer and provide the necessary amount of oxygen to brain cells, which are in great need of it during the rehabilitation period.