Cerebral atherosclerosis occurs when cholesterol, fat, and calcium build up in plaque on the walls of the brain's arteries. Over time, these plaques narrow the arteries, blocking blood flow to the brain.

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If atherosclerotic plaques rupture, they can form blood clots, causing complete blockage and leading to ischemic stroke.

2. Causes and risk factors

Some of the main causes of cerebral atherosclerosis include:

Hypercholesterolemia: High levels of LDL (“bad cholesterol”) are a direct cause of plaque buildup.
High blood pressure: Consistently high blood pressure damages blood vessel walls, creating conditions for atherosclerotic plaques to form.
Diabetes: Long-term high blood sugar damages small and large blood vessels.
Smoking: Increases the risk of atherosclerosis many times.
High fat, low fiber diet and sedentary lifestyle.
Age and genetic factors: People over 50 years old or with a family history of cardiovascular disease are more susceptible to atherosclerosis.

3. Signs of cerebral atherosclerosis

In the early stages, the disease progresses silently, with few symptoms. When the lumen of the blood vessel is narrowed by more than 70%, the patient may experience:

Frequent headaches, dizziness, loss of balance.
Memory loss, poor concentration.
Blurred vision, difficulty speaking, or transient weakness.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) – warning signs of an impending stroke.

Regular screening is the only way to detect the disease early before dangerous complications appear.

4. Cerebral atherosclerosis and risk of stroke

Atherosclerosis is the “root” of ischemic stroke. When the blood vessels in the brain are blocked, brain cells will not receive enough oxygen and die in just a few minutes. This can have serious consequences:

Hemiplegia.
Language disorders, memory loss.
Personality changes, loss of ability to work.
Death without timely emergency care.

Therefore, prevention and treatment of cerebral atherosclerosis is the strategy to prevent stroke from the root.

5. Early prevention of cerebral atherosclerosis

You can completely control and slow the progression of atherosclerosis with the following measures:

Maintain a healthy diet: reduce animal fat, increase green vegetables, fish, seeds and whole grains.
Exercise regularly: at least 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week.
Control blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids as prescribed by your doctor.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol to protect blood vessels.
Regular health check-ups and stroke screening: especially for people with underlying medical conditions or over 40 years old.

6. Cerebral atherosclerosis screening – a solution to protect brain health

Currently, techniques such as carotid Doppler ultrasound, CT-Scan, and MRI of cerebral blood vessels allow doctors to detect early stenosis or occlusion of cerebral blood vessels. When detected early, patients can be treated with lipid-lowering drugs, anticoagulants, or stenting to prevent stroke.

Conclude

Cerebral atherosclerosis is a silent but dangerous cause that directly leads to stroke. Changing to a healthy lifestyle combined with regular screening is an effective way to prevent, protect the brain and quality of life.

If you want to check your cerebrovascular health comprehensively, come to Sakura Japanese Clinic. With a team of experienced doctors and modern Japanese-standard equipment, Sakura provides specialized stroke screening packages, helping to detect early cerebral atherosclerosis and prevent dangerous complications.

Contact Sakura Japanese Clinic now for consultation and to schedule a stroke screening from the root.

Source: https://skr.vn/xo-vua-mach-mau-nao-phong-ngua-dot-quy-tu-goc/