What causes lacunar cerebral infarction?

Generally, lacunar cerebral infarction may be caused by vascular aging due to aging itself, unhealthy lifestyle habits, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and other factors. Symptomatic management through general treatment and medication is necessary. If physical discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delay in treatment. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Vascular Aging Due to Aging

With increasing age, blood vessels are prone to hardening, narrowing, and occlusion, which are natural aging phenomena and usually difficult to reverse. This vascular aging increases the risk of lacunar cerebral infarction and may be accompanied by signs of aging such as memory loss and slowed reaction time. A healthy lifestyle, including balanced diet, appropriate exercise, smoking cessation, and limiting alcohol consumption, can help delay the process of vascular aging.

2. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits

Long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, excessive fatigue, and unhealthy dietary habits can damage the vascular endothelium, increase blood viscosity, slow blood flow, and easily lead to thrombus formation, thus triggering lacunar cerebral infarction. It is recommended to improve lifestyle habits, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, maintain a low-fat, low-sugar, low-salt diet, and engage in appropriate physical activity to reduce vascular damage.

3. Hypertension

Long-term high-salt diet, emotional fluctuations, genetic factors, and other factors may lead to hypertension. Hypertension can damage vascular walls, promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, cause narrowing or occlusion of small arteries, trigger lacunar cerebral infarction, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. It is recommended to follow medical advice to use medications such as nifedipine controlled-release tablets, benazepril tablets, and metoprolol sustained-release tablets to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease.

4. Hyperlipidemia

Genetic factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits may lead to lipid metabolism disorders and result in hyperlipidemia. Excessively high levels of lipid components such as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood can increase blood viscosity, slow blood flow, and easily lead to thrombus formation in small blood vessels, thereby causing lacunar cerebral infarction. This condition may be accompanied by symptoms such as obesity and fatty liver. It is recommended to follow medical guidance and use medications such as pravastatin sodium tablets, atorvastatin calcium tablets, and bezafibrate tablets to alleviate symptoms, lower blood lipid levels, and reduce vascular damage.

5. Diabetes

Diabetes is primarily caused by defects in insulin secretion or impaired insulin biological function. The hyperglycemic state in diabetic patients damages vascular endothelial cells, accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis, increases the risk of lacunar cerebral infarction, and may be accompanied by typical diabetic symptoms such as polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss. It is recommended to follow medical instructions and use medications such as acarbose capsules, glimepiride tablets, and gliquidone tablets for treatment to control blood glucose levels.

In daily life, it is recommended to maintain good lifestyle habits, such as engaging in appropriate physical activity and ensuring sufficient sleep, which can help improve physical fitness and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

References

[1] Liu Xiaoying, Ye Yue, Wang Changde. Don't Be Scared by "Lacunar Infarction." Scientific Life, 2024, (01):2-3.

[2] Li Shixia. The Impact of Early Nursing Model on Mental Status and Daily Living Ability in Elderly Patients with Lacunar Cerebral Infarction. Chinese Medical Sciences, 2022, 12(14):94-96+117.