C Cerebrovascular disease
Definition
Cerebral vascular disorders are characterized by sudden neurologic deficits resulting from ischemia or hemorrhagic events. Cerebrovascular disease is any of a group of disorders that affects the vasculature of the brain, the primary disorder being cerebrovascular accident (CVA or “stroke”) as a result of hemorrhage and ischemia.
Incidence and prevalence
Cerebrovascular disease is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Women have lower stroke rates than men.
Pathophysiology
The major risk factors for the development of cerebrovascular disease are hypertension and diabetes. Other risk factors include atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes, dissecting aneurysm, disorders affecting the myocardium, congestive heart failure, polycythemia, cigarette smoking, use of oral contraceptives, and postpartum infection. The different manifestations of cerebrovascular disease can be classified as: