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What is Cerebrovascular Disease?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a family of medical conditions which concern the supply of blood to the brain. The presence of an uninterrupted blood supply is critical for brain function, so cerebrovascular disease is a cause for major concern when it manifests. Conditions which interfere with blood supply to the brain can be identified and addressed in a number of ways. Elderly people, smokers, diabetics, and people with high blood pressure are all at increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.

For people who know their Latin roots, this medical term can be recognized by its parts: “cerebro” refers to the brain, while “vascular” refers to veins and blood vessels. CVD includes conditions which effect the supply of blood to the brain, and the blood supply within the brain. Left untreated, a cerebrovascular condition can lead to a stroke or aneurysm, which could cause brain damage or even death, depending on the location and the severity of the event.

Elderly people who smoke are at an increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.
Elderly people who smoke are at an increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.

A wide array of things can interfere with the brain's blood supply, including venous malformations, hardening or narrowing of the veins and arteries which supply blood to the brain, blood clots, and obstruction of the veins. Medical imaging studies can be used to look at the blood supply in the brain, often with the use of tracers which illuminate the veins and arteries to make them easier to see. In people who are more at risk for cerebrovascular disease, a doctor may recommend a periodic screening, especially if neurological symptoms arise.

Left untreated, a cerebrovascular condition can lead to an aneurysm.
Left untreated, a cerebrovascular condition can lead to an aneurysm.

In addition to being linked with conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease can also be caused by certain medications, nutritional deficiencies, the development of tumors, or trauma to the brain. Doctors who work with patients who are predisposed to developing cerebrovascular problems may suggest a number of techniques to reduce the risk. Managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes is important, as is being aware of the risks involved in taking certain medications.

Patients with high blood pressure are at high risk for developing cerebrovascular disease.
Patients with high blood pressure are at high risk for developing cerebrovascular disease.

It is also important to be alert to the early signs of a neurological problem. Slurred speech, dizziness, confusion, difficulty walking, vertigo, vision problems, and memory loss are all signs that there is something wrong with the brain, and they are grounds for an immediate visit to the doctor. Cerebrovascular disease can emerge in people who are perfectly healthy, so a history of generally good health and no known illnesses is not an excuse for delaying medical evaluation of neurological symptoms.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Azuza

@Monika - Healthy habits are important. However I would like to point out that not all cerebrovascular diseases are preventable. Like the article said, CV can be causes by tumors, medications, and also come on suddenly in healthy people.

Keeping this in mind I think it's definitely a must for everyone to know what the symptoms of a stroke are. One of my great aunts had a stroke and if she had been to the hospital sooner her prognosis would have been much, much better. Unfortunately the people she was with at the time didn't know what the signs were.

Monika

Whenever I hear about vascular disease it reminds me how important it is to develop healthy habits when you're young. Since the risk of developing this condition increases if you're diabetic, a smoker, or have high blood pressure healthy habits can possibly prevent this.

I read somewhere that the biggest predictor of disease later in life is the health behaviors of your twenties. So it makes sense to stop smoking and start eating right and exercising when you're young, not when health problems start.

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    • Elderly people who smoke are at an increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.
      By: Brett Mulcahy
      Elderly people who smoke are at an increased risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.
    • Left untreated, a cerebrovascular condition can lead to an aneurysm.
      By: joshya
      Left untreated, a cerebrovascular condition can lead to an aneurysm.
    • Patients with high blood pressure are at high risk for developing cerebrovascular disease.
      By: Monkey Business
      Patients with high blood pressure are at high risk for developing cerebrovascular disease.
    • If hypertension remains untreated, it can result in cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease later in life.
      By: dambuster
      If hypertension remains untreated, it can result in cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease later in life.
    • CVDs are typically diagnosed through medical imaging studies that look at the blood flow through the brain.
      By: Mikhail Basov
      CVDs are typically diagnosed through medical imaging studies that look at the blood flow through the brain.