A blockage of one of the arteries that supplies the deeper structures of the brain causes a lacunar stroke, explains Drugs.com. The blockage frequently occurs as a consequence of hypertension, which causes a pounding pulse and the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of arteries.Continue Reading
Around 20 percent of all strokes in the United States are lacunar strokes, according to Drugs.com. They are rarely caused by an embolus because the arteries involved are too small for clot debris to reach. An area of damage caused by a lacunar stroke is called a lacune because it is small, typically ranging between 3 millimeters and 2 centimeters in diameter.
Some of the symptoms of a lacunar stroke include weakness or paralysis of the face and the lower limbs, sudden numbness, difficulty walking, difficulty speaking, hand or arm clumsiness, and weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles, according to Drugs.com. People with persistently elevated blood pressure can develop multiple lacunar strokes, in which case they can develop symptoms of dementia and emotional behavior.
The treatment for a lacunar stroke typically involves the use clot-busting medication in the hospital within the first few hours of the onset of symptoms, explains Drugs.com. Patients typically remain in the hospital for observation and work with a therapist to improve recovery.Learn more about Conditions & Diseases