Eat Healty And Watch Your Blood Sugar…
Shown in this image is the vasculature of the brainstem, and the deeper structures, most notably the medulla can be seen at the back of the image. One important brainstem artery is the basilar artery (pictured with the arrow) and a stroke in this region can lead to “Locked in syndrome” which is characterized by paralysis of all muscles besides those for blinking with full sensation. In this image the basilar artery is yellow which is likely due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis of the basilar artery is rare, as other arteries, namely the abdominal aorta and coronary vessels, are often affected first. Over time these atherosclerotic plaques get bigger and bigger, before they can burst, forming a thrombus. If a thrombus occludes an entire vessel, cells downstream of the thrombus can die, causing a heart attack or stroke. One major mediator of arteriosclerosis is your LDL cholesterol and blood glucose levels. In outpatient setting a “Lipid panel” and “fasting blood glucose/ hemoglobin A1C” are commonly performed to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, respectively to prevent complications such as this! Comment below as to some health tips you can leave others to help them manage their cholesterol and blood sugar! MEDICINE