Cerebrovascular disease is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the brain, reducing blood flow and leading to brain damage, often causing strokes.

• High Blood Pressure: Chronic high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of strokes and other cerebrovascular conditions.
• Atherosclerosis: This condition occurs when the arteries become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits (plaque), reducing blood flow to the brain.
• Blood Clots: Blood clots can form in the arteries or travel to the brain, causing a blockage and reducing blood flow.
• Aneurysms: A weakened spot in a blood vessel wall can bulge and burst, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke.
• Genetic Predisposition: Some people are more likely to develop cerebrovascular disease due to inherited risk factors.

• Older Adults: The risk of cerebrovascular disease increases with age, particularly in individuals over 55.
• People with High Blood Pressure or Cholesterol: Uncontrolled blood pressure or high cholesterol levels raise the risk of damaging blood vessels.
• Smokers: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of blood clots and stroke.
• Diabetics: Diabetes can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease.
• People with a Family History: A family history of stroke or cerebrovascular disease raises the likelihood of developing these conditions.

• Sudden Weakness or Numbness: This typically occurs on one side of the body, affecting the face, arm, or leg. It’s often a key sign of a stroke.
• Difficulty Speaking or Understanding Speech: People may suddenly have trouble finding words, slurring speech, or understanding conversations.
• Vision Problems: Blurred vision, double vision, or sudden vision loss, particularly in one eye, can be a sign of a stroke or other cerebrovascular issue.
• Severe Headache: A sudden, intense headache that comes on without warning can indicate a stroke, particularly a hemorrhagic stroke caused by a ruptured blood vessel.
• Dizziness or Loss of Balance: Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of coordination may signal a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack).

• Sudden Paralysis or Weakness: If you or someone you’re with experiences sudden weakness or paralysis, especially on one side of the body, call emergency services immediately.
• Loss of Consciousness: Fainting or unresponsiveness can be a sign of a major stroke or aneurysm rupture.
• Severe, Unexplained Headache: A sudden, very intense headache—sometimes described as "the worst headache of your life"—may indicate a brain hemorrhage.
• Confusion or Trouble Understanding Speech: Difficulty speaking, understanding language, or sudden confusion can be an urgent warning sign of a stroke.
• Blurred or Lost Vision: Sudden vision loss or blurred vision, especially in one eye, should be treated as a medical emergency.

• Imaging Tests: Imaging tests are crucial for diagnosing cerebrovascular disease. CT scans or MRIs provide detailed images of the brain, helping to detect strokes, bleeding, or areas with reduced blood flow. Carotid ultrasound uses sound waves to check the carotid arteries in the neck for narrowing or blockages, which can increase the risk of stroke. Angiography involves injecting a special dye into the blood vessels to make blockages or aneurysms visible on X-rays or MRI scans, allowing doctors to assess blood flow in the brain.
• Blood Tests: Blood tests help measure cholesterol, blood sugar, and clotting factors, which are important for evaluating stroke risk.
• Neurological Exam: A doctor will assess cognitive function, reflexes, coordination, and movement to evaluate any brain damage caused by cerebrovascular disease.

• Medications: Several medications are used to manage cerebrovascular disease and reduce the risk of complications. Blood thinners (like aspirin or warfarin) help prevent blood clots from forming or worsening. Antihypertensive drugs lower high blood pressure, reducing the likelihood of future strokes. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins, help reduce cholesterol buildup in the arteries, lowering the risk of blockages and improving blood flow to the brain.
• Surgery or Procedures: For severe blockages in the arteries, surgical interventions may be required. Carotid endarterectomy involves removing plaque from the walls of the carotid arteries to restore normal blood flow to the brain. Alternatively, angioplasty and stenting use a balloon to widen the narrowed artery, with a stent placed to keep it open and maintain proper blood flow.
• Rehabilitation: After a stroke or cerebrovascular event, rehabilitation may be necessary to regain lost abilities. This may include physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy to help individuals recover.

• Call Emergency Services: If you or someone around you shows signs of a stroke (sudden weakness, confusion, or severe headache), call emergency services immediately.
• Take Note of Symptoms: If possible, note when the symptoms started. Quick treatment can reduce brain damage, especially within the first few hours of a stroke.
• Follow Medical Advice: After diagnosis, follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan closely, including taking medications as prescribed and attending follow-up appointments.

• Control Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes. Regular monitoring and managing blood pressure through medications, diet, and exercise can reduce the risk.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Quitting smoking improves vascular health and reduces stroke risk.
• Manage Cholesterol Levels: Keeping cholesterol levels in check through a healthy diet and, if necessary, medications like statins helps prevent blockages in the arteries.
• Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves circulation, strengthens the heart, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the risk of cerebrovascular events.
• Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, like those found in fish and olive oil, can help prevent artery blockages and improve overall cardiovascular health.

• Regular Checkups: Routine medical checkups help monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors, allowing for early intervention if needed.
• Medications: For individuals at high risk, doctors may prescribe medications such as blood thinners or statins to prevent strokes and other cerebrovascular events.
• Manage Chronic Conditions: Controlling conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease.