Cerebrovascular diseases are a group of diseases that occur due to blockage or bleeding of the vessels feeding the brain and cause symptoms related to the damaged brain area. The condition caused by narrowing and occlusion of the brain vessels is called ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and the rupture of the vessel and the spread of blood within the brain is called cerebral hemorrhage.

According to statistics, cerebrovascular diseases are the third cause of death after cancer and heart diseases, and the first in terms of morbidity. Among neurological diseases of the adult period, cerebrovascular diseases constitute the most common and important disease group. Epidemiological data in Western societies show that 0.2% of societies experience stroke each year. One-third of cases die within a year, making stroke the third leading cause of death. In one third of the cases, various degrees of sequelae remain due to stroke, and this rate puts stroke in the category of diseases that cause the most disability and dependency.

What are the Risk Factors?

Non-modifiable risk factors Age: Cerebrovascular diseases occur more frequently and have a more serious course in older ages. Gender: It is more common in men. Genetic Factors: Cerebrovascular disease is more common in some populations. Modifiable Risk Factors Hypertension: Uncontrolled hypertension can cause damage, plaque formation and narrowing in cerebral vessels. High blood pressure can cause blood vessels to rupture, causing bleeding into the brain. It is possible to significantly reduce the frequency of cerebrovascular events with regular antihypertensive treatment and diet. Hyperlipidemia: High blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) are a well-known risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. This condition needs to be addressed with diet, exercise and, in some cases, medications. Diabetes: Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to cerebrovascular accident by causing deterioration in vascular structures and blood clotting functions. Good diabetes control is very important. Sedentary life: It is known that lack of movement and exercise causes cerebrovascular diseases. Smoking: It is the most common among cerebrovascular risk factors. Alcohol: Alcohol consumed frequently and in excessive amounts can cause heart rhythm disorders and vascular wall damage. Heart diseases: heart valve diseases, rhythm disorders, insufficiencies can cause cerebrovascular disease with clot formation and embolism.

What are the symptoms?

Temporary headache that lasts for a few hours Vision loss Speech disorders Memory problems Numbness in one half of the body Loss of strength 

What Causes Tingling?

Cerebral thrombosis: responsible for approximately half of cerebrovascular events. Occlusion of the vessel occurs when atherosclerotic plaques accumulate in the vessel. Neurological deficit develops gradually in such patients. It starts with a complaint of headache. Edema usually develops in the affected area within 72 hours. Cerebral embolism: clot, air, fat, tumor fragment, etc. from extracranial vessels. It occurs as a result of substances blocking the brain vessels. Embolism develops without any symptoms in a very short time, such as a few seconds or a minute. It often occurs as a result of diseases such as valve diseases and arterial fibrillation. Intracranial hemorrhage: causes sudden cessation of blood flow. Signs and symptoms appear in a very short time. Factors causing bleeding: Bleeding disorders such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, hemophilia, anticoagulant treatment, acute infections, vascular disorders such as diabetes and aneurysms, head traumas, hypertension, tumors.

What are the Diagnostic Methods?

The information provided by the patient and his/her relatives is very valuable in diagnosing cerebrovascular disease in a patient presenting with disease symptoms. For this reason, having people next to the patient who know the development of the event best helps the diagnosis to be made more quickly. Imaging tests to be performed following the examination of the patient are arranged in order of necessity. Imaging tests to be performed following the patient's examination are arranged in order of necessity. Cranial tomography is the most commonly used examination method and is very helpful in diagnosis. In some patients, cranial MRI and angiography may also be required, depending on the situation. Blood tests and cardiac examinations to find the cause of the disease are also completed at the time of application.

What are the treatment methods?

Effective treatment of the disease should begin as quickly as possible, just like the treatment of a heart attack. Clot-dissolving methods aimed at opening vascular occlusion, which can be applied to patients brought in within the first three or six hours, can provide very satisfactory results in the treatment. For patients who arrive later, treatments are applied to prevent vascular occlusion, and if there is edema in the brain, treatments are applied to relieve this condition.

Bleeding cases vary widely and surgical treatments are rarely applied. In addition, cardiac, hematological and other systemic problems that cause this condition must be eliminated. In the next stage, rehabilitation interventions are applied to help patients regain their lost functions.