What does small vessel disease in the brain mean?
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the most common, chronic and progressive vascular disease. The changes affect arterioles, capillaries and small veins supplying the white matter and deep structures of the brain. It is the most common incidental finding on brain scans, especially in people over 80 years of age.
Can we treat small vessel disease of the brain?
The goals of treatment for small vessel disease are to control the narrowing of the small blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack and to relieve pain. Medications for small vessel disease may include: Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitro-Dur).
How do you improve small vessel disease?
Things you can do that might reduce your risk of small vessel disease include:
- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products. If you smoke or use tobacco, stop.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage cholesterol.
- Control blood pressure.
- Control blood sugar.
- Manage stress.
Is small vessel disease hereditary?
Cerebral small vessel disease is considered hereditary in about 5% of patients and is characterized by lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities on MRI. Several monogenic hereditary diseases causing cerebral small vessel disease and stroke have been identified.
Is small vessel disease MS?
Small vessel ischemic disease is a common radiographic mimic of MS. Like MS, it can produce multiple focal lesions in the subcortical white matter; however, unlike MS, the lesions typically spare the U-fibers and do not involve the cerebellum or corpus callosum.
What is age related small vessel disease?
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a common process in the ageing brain, which affects small vessels, including arterioles, capillaries and small veins. SVD predicts stroke, cognitive impairment and depression, and is believed to contribute to approximately 45% of all dementia disorders (Wardlaw et al., 2013b).
Is small vessel disease dementia?
Small vessel disease is the most common cause of vascular dementia, which is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Risk factors for small vessel disease include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, too much fat in the blood, lack of exercise and some dietary factors like too much salt.
How do you prevent small vessel disease in the brain?
Regular exercise, healthy diet (Mediterranean diet, folic acid and vitamin B12), and avoiding adverse lifestyle factors such as smoking, excess alcohol or high dietary sodium, are all associated with having fewer SVD features in observational studies.
What is the treatment for small vessel disease in the brain?
Treatment. The treatment for small vessel disease involves medications to control the narrowing of your small blood vessels that could lead to a heart attack and to relieve pain. Your doctor could prescribe: Nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin tablets, sprays and patches can ease chest pain by relaxing your coronary arteries and improving blood flow.
What are symptoms of small vessel disease in brain?
Symptoms. Small vessel disease signs and symptoms include: Chest pain, squeezing or discomfort (angina), which may worsen during daily activities and times of stress Discomfort in your left arm, jaw, neck, back or abdomen associated with chest pain.
What is the prognosis for small vessel brain disease?
Treatment For Small Vessel Brain Disease. There is no cure for small vessel brain disease; however, if the condition is detected early there are good chances of preventing dementia and other problems. The aim of treatment is to address the risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes so that some of the symptoms can be reversed.
What are symptoms of small vessel disease?
Shortness of breath
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