Cerebrovascular disease is a general term that encompasses a variety of diseases which affect (via the occlusive effects of
atherosclerosis) the arteries which supply the brain. These include:
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Stroke
Stroke, also called brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Disruption in blood flow is caused when
either a blood clot or piece of plaque blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke), or when a blood
vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues.
Additional information about stroke
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Arteriovenous malformation
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital (present at birth) or acquired disorder that consists of a disorderly,
tangled web of arteries and veins. The cause of AVM is unknown.
An AVM has a risk for rupturing and bleeding into the brain – specifically, in the form of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which
results when bleeding occurs between the brain and the meninges (the membranes that covers the brain) in the subarachnoid
space. Surgery may be helpful, in this case, to help prevent a stroke from occurring.
Additional information about AVM
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Aneurysm
An aneurysm is the dilation – thinning and ballooning or bulging out – in part of the wall of a vein, artery or the heart.
It may be small and not cause any symptoms. An aneurysm may be caused or aggravated by disease (such as atherosclerosis or
hypertension), injury or an abnormality present at birth.
Additional information about aneurysm
Related Centers and Programs at Jefferson
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Jefferson Acute Stroke Center – One of the most advanced centers in the United States for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research of stroke,
and the largest facility dedicated to the care of acute stroke in the Delaware Valley.
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Brain Attack Program – Sponsored by the National Council of Stroke to make potential patients aware of our new, more aggressive treatments for
stroke and what to do when recognizable symptoms occur.
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