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Cerebral circulatory insufficiency is now known as a fairly common disease in middle-aged and older people, especially in intellectual workers and the elderly (1), according to statistics, about two-thirds of the elderly age with this disease. In addition, according to experts, this disease is increasingly “rejuvenating”(2). Symptoms are quite faint and general, not easy to detect and easily mistaken for other diseases. Join us to learn about this disease, how to prevent it and to improve cerebrovascular insufficiency effectively.
Cerebral circulatory insufficiency, also known as transient cerebral ischemia, occurs suddenly due to a lac
k of blood to feed brain cells, and reduced oxygen and nutrients to the brain, causing brain neurons to lack the energy to function, thereby affecting the functional activities of the brain.
The brain is the most important organ of the body. Although the volume is only 2 percent of the body weight, the brain receives 20% of the blood supply to the body. Brain cells will faint after stopping cerebral circulation for about 6-7 seconds, and will die after stopping for 5 minutes(1,2).
The most common cause of cerebrovascular insufficiency is atherosclerosis, which narrows the artery lumen, reducing blood flow to the brain (the main cause accounts for 60-80%).
Other causes include:
Symptoms of cerebral circulatory insufficiency occur frequently and repeatedly, causing discomfort, affecting activities, and reducing the quality of life. More dangerous, the disease can also cause complications leading to stroke, cerebral infarction, cerebrovascular accident, … life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to recognize the disease early to have timely and effective treatment(1,2) .
The best preventive measure is to detect the disease early by paying attention to the smallest manifestations of the disease such as headache, dizziness, insomnia… and going to the doctor early. Do not think these are just symptoms often seen by the elderly that are ignored to avoid the case that the disease becomes serious.
Positive lifestyle changes:
Currently, modern medicine is mainly treating the cause (dyslipidemia, cervical spondylosis…) with drugs to enhance cerebral circulation and neuroprotective drugs.
It is necessary to actively treat comorbidities such as diabetes, and hypertension, and limit the risk factors of atherosclerosis.
In addition, products containing natural active ingredients of Ginkgo Biloba and Blueberry… are researched to prove effective brain nourishment(3) .
Ginkgo is dubbed as a sacred plant good for the human brain. Since the 1900s, it has been used as medicine in the West, when the extract of the leaves has the effect of improving blood circulation, especially in the blood vessels of the brain and extremities. Currently, in the US and Europe, preparations with high Ginkgo biloba leaves are now one of the best-selling herbal medicines.
Ginkgo is commonly used to treat dementia, caused by a lack of cerebral blood circulation. It helps improve thinking, cognition, and memory in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors also use ginkgo to treat cerebral and peripheral circulatory disorders, macular degeneration, vestibular syndrome, tinnitus, depression, anxiety, stress, thrombophlebitis of the extremities, syndromes Raynaud.
Ginkgo leaf extract contains high levels of flavonoids and terpenoids, which are powerful antioxidants that neutralize the effects of free radicals. Therefore, the extract of ginkgo leaves helps to slow down the aging process and neurological diseases(4,5) .
Blueberries are native North American plants, rich in nutrients, and considered the king of the antioxidant food group. More specifically, anthocyanins, pterostilbene, and organic acids are antioxidants found in blueberries.
The precious biological active substances Anthocyanin, Pterostilbene, and these organic acids are neuroprotective agents because they can cross the blood-brain barrier, neutralize free radicals and fight related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and vascular diseases(6,7).
One study found that when older adults with mild cognitive impairment drank blueberry juice every day for 12 weeks, there was some improvement in brain function (8). A 6-year study of 16,000 older adults found that blueberries and strawberries were associated with a delay in mental aging by up to 2 and a half years(9).
Today, with modern medicine and pharmacy, precious biological active ingredients in ginkgo, and blueberry are extracted and prepared in the form of tablets, and soft capsules…. which are very convenient for the patient to use.
Products containing both herbs above will effectively improve the symptoms of cerebral circulatory insufficiency. Patients should choose products from reputable pharmaceutical companies that have experience in manufacturing products with high-quality standards.
Reference:
Effect of the antioxidant action of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on aging and oxidative stress
Age (Omaha), 20(1997), pp.141–149.
Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults
J Agric Food Chem,58(2010), pp.3996–4000.
Dietary intakes of berries and flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline
Annals of Neurology, 72(2012), pp.135-143
