Hypertensive encephalopathy - a neurological dysfunction, associated with multifocal lesions of brain tissue due to chronic disorders of cerebral circulation. Pathology develops as complications of hypertension and progresses slowly. In order to prevent severe consequences require prompt treatment.
The causes of the disease
The main reason for hypertensive encephalopathy - hypertension. High blood pressure can be chronic, primarily due to developing hypertensive disease. But it is possible and symptomatic hypertensionAppearing secondary to:
- kidney dysfunction (nephritis, hydronephrosis, polycystic etc.);
- tumor lesions adrenal tissue and endocrine disorders (hyperthyroidism, Conn's syndrome, Cushing's disease);
- Aortic atherosclerosis;
- cervical degenerative disc disease;
- eclampsia and other pathologies.
With a sharp jump of AD increases vascular permeability. Plasma seeps into the brain tissue, which leads to swelling of the brain and malfunctions. So develop acute encephalopathy, which often leads to a heart attack, ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic.
A regular increase in pressure causes the thickening of the vascular wall and, consequently:
- reduction of vascular lumen;
- slowing of blood flow;
- deterioration of nutrition and oxygenation of various organs;
- degenerative and necrotic changes.
Most while suffering from kidney tissue, heart, brain.
Factors that increase the risk of hypertensive encephalopathy:
- hypertensive crisis;
- replacement or the sudden cancellation of antihypertensive drugs;
- Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis of cerebral arteries;
- abuse of alcohol and caffeinated products;
- smoking, drug abuse;
- Exceeding the recommended dosage of certain medicines;
- nervous shock.
symptoms
Signs of disease depends on the extensiveness of lesions and their localization. In the early development of the disease symptoms may be absent, but often appear weak non-specific symptoms, the severity of which increases gradually. Eventually formed symptom specific to individual neurological syndromes, whose development is determined by the location of necrotic foci in a particular brain region.
The acute form
Acute encephalopathy may occur alone or against a chronic course of the disease. Its symptoms are:
- Severe headaches, originating in the occipital part and gradually covering the entire head.
- Nausea, vomiting, not bringing relief.
- Dizziness, loss of balance or out of synch movements.
- Blurred vision (darkening of the eyes, double vision, etc.).
- Temporary hearing loss, noise effects.
- Psychoemotional reaction (panic, fear of death, aggression and wanton m. P.).
- sensitivity disorder, convulsive manifestations.
Symptomatology increases when coughing and sneezing. Sometimes there is angina, increase in the frequency of heart rate, flushing or blanching of the skin.
The chronic form
Symptomatology of chronic encephalopathy depends on the stage of disease development.
At step I complaints of fatigue, distraction, mnemic disorders, frequent vertigo and migraine. The patient becomes irritable, excited or suppressed, subject to frequent changes of mood.
At stage II joins severe neurological symptoms:
- unsteadiness of gait;
- muscle weakness;
- violation of coordination of actions;
- tremor;
- convulsions;
- tics and so on.
Cognitive abnormalities are expressed moderately, there are emotional outbursts, insomnia, strange behavior, the lack of an objective assessment of health status.
The last stage of hypertensive encephalopathy is characterized by:
- increased neurological abnormalities;
- impairment of the auditory, visual, tactile;
- failures in the memory;
- uncontrollability movements;
- inappropriate behavior.
There are speech disorders, swallowing problems, urinary and fecal incontinence.
methods of diagnosis
required inspection of several specialists for the diagnosis:
- Neurologist conducts testing to exclude other cerebral abnormalities and determine the stage of encephalopathy.
- The cardiologist determines the change in rates of blood pressure during the day to confirm the presence of hypertension and makes a cardiogram.
- Psychiatrist carries out differential diagnosis of possible mental disorders, evaluating the condition of the patient psyche.
Conducted laboratory tests of blood and urine. The survey may also include:
- EEG;
- computer and magnetic resonance imaging;
- Ultrasound of the heart;
- Doppler ultrasound;
- examination ophthalmologist and nephrologist.
Treatment
In the presence of hypertensive encephalopathy treatment is primarily directed at reducing blood pressure and improvement of cerebral circulation. Also shows the use of symptomatic drugs.
folk
Traditional medicines are effective in the early development of the disease. they are used in consultation with a doctor in combination with diet. For the preparation of decoctions and infusions to help with hypertensive encephalopathy, are most commonly used:
- briar;
- Aronia;
- Linden blossom;
- hawthorn;
- clover flowers;
- motherwort;
- valerian root.
natural juices and propolis tincture is also used. They help normalize the pressure, improve brain blood circulation, clear the blood vessels, to get rid of the primary symptoms.
Medication
When hypertensive encephalopathy priority is to reduce the pressure, but it should be done slowly to prevent cerebral ischemia. The desired result is obtained using diuretics, calcium channel blockers, adrenergic antagonists, ACE-inhibitors. In addition, drug therapy necessarily includes the reception:
- preparations improving hemodynamics (aspirin, pentoxifylline, Trental, Dipyridamole, etc.);
- neuroprotective agents (glycine, Meksidol, Thioctacid et al.);
- vitamin complexes.
If necessary, designate nerve stimulators, sedatives, anticonvulsants and other symptomatic agents. Lack of proper treatment leads to a deterioration of the patient and subsequent disability.
