This deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients, which kills brain cells.
It can cause life-threatening consequences, such asseizuresorbrain swelling.
This response to the lack of blood flow is called aninfarction.
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High blood pressure can lead toatherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty deposits (plaque) clog the arteries.
This can lead to ischemic strokes.
A traveling blood clot is called anembolus.
Smoking is also a risk factor for stroke.
What Arteries Are Affected?
What Brain Structures Are Affected?
The basal ganglia contains multiple structures.
One, the substantia nigra, is affected inParkinson’s disease.
The basal ganglia controls sophisticated functions that require coordination and muscle movements.
Internal Capsule
The internal capsuleis located very deep within the brain.
The internal capsule’s function is transmitting signals for movement to more inferior structures.
In addition, the internal capsule is involved in carrying nerve signals related to sensation.
Numbness on the opposite side of the body may occur with a small vessel stroke in this area.
It also helps control your eye movements and swallowing.
Motor and sensory nerve pathways course through the brainstem as well.
Eye movement problemsor problems swallowing (dysphagia) may also occur.
High blood pressure is a major cause of small vessel strokes.
Symptoms of these strokes tend to include issues with movement and/or sensation on one side of the body.
More complex functions, like language, vision, and cognitive processes, are not usually affected.
With rehabilitation and risk factor management, you’re able to achieve maximal recovery and prevent additional strokes.
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Stanford Medicine.Internal Capsular Stroke.
Am J Speech Lang Pathol.
2020 Jul; 29(2 Suppl): 10301043. doi:10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00068
