Cerebral Vascular Disorders

Question 1

What are Cerebral Vascular Disorders?

Answer 1

• Most common cause of death and chronic disease

- Lack of oxygen and glucose

Question 2

What is a stroke and what does it cause?

Answer 2

• Stroke (CVA): sudden disruption of blood flow

- Causes an infarct: area of dead or dying tissue

Question 3

What is a Cerebral Ischemia?

Answer 3

• Ischemia: blockage in blood vessels going to brain

Question 4

What is the difference between thrombosis and embolism? What can they cause?

Answer 4

• Thrombosis: formation of a plug or clot in the blood vessel
• Embolism: a clot or plug that is brought through the blood from a larger vessel to a smaller vessel; plug can be a clot, bubble of air, or mass of cells from a tumor
• Causes: narrowing of vessels

Question 5

What is Cerebral Arteriosclerosis?

Answer 5

• Definition: thickening/hardening of arteries

- Causes: narrowing of vessels

Question 6

What is a Hemorrhage?

Answer 6

• Definition: massive bleeding into the brain

- Causes: hypertension, high blood pressure, congenital defects, blood disorders, brain trauma, toxic chemicals

Question 7

What is an Angioma?

Answer 7

• Definition: congenital collection of abnormal blood vessels that divert normal flow of blood
• Causes: Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM: masses of enlarged, twisted vessels)
• May lead to stroke

Question 8

What is an Aneurysm?

Answer 8

• Definition: vascular dilation
• Causes: due mostly to congenital defects, but also to hypertension, arteriosclerosis, embolisms, or infections
• May lead to stroke

Question 9

Treatment for CVDs?

Answer 9

1) Drug Therapy: t-PA therapy (anticoagulant); neuro-protective drugs or anti-platelet agents
2) Surgery: used to relive pressure
3) Prevention: most effective; metabolic syndrome (combination of medical disorders increases risk); stress control; avoid smoking; control blood pressure