The vertebral artery runs through the vertebra along each side of the neck. It supplies blood to the neck vertebrae (upper spinal cord) and the lower brain. The artery walls have several layers. If a tear occurs in the artery wall, blood leaks out between the layers. This is called dissection. This can lead to the formation of a blood clot resulting in stroke. Vertebral artery dissection is the most common causes of stroke in young and middle-aged adults, but it can occur at any age. It may also be called cervical artery dissection.
What causes vertebral artery dissection?
Anytime the physical makeup of the arterial wall is damaged, dissection can occur. This can occur after even a minor injury to the head or neck. This can happen during:
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Physical activities such as wrestling, yoga, weight lifting and other sports, trampoline use, or riding a roller coaster
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Childbirth
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Sex
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Coughing or sneezing
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Infection or inflammation
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Strangulation
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Chiropractic manipulation (controversial)
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Motor vehicle accident such as whiplash
Connective tissue disorders or vascular disorders may be linked with dissection too. But this is less common. Genes may also play a role.
Symptoms of vertebral artery dissection
Symptoms of vertebral artery dissection include symptoms of stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) and the following:
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Headache
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Neck pain
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Tinnitus
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Vertigo
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Face pain and paralysis
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Changes in vision
If you have symptoms of stroke or TIA, call 911.
Call 911
Call 911 if you have:
Symptoms of stroke or TIA. These include:
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Weakness. You may feel a sudden weakness, tingling, or a loss of feeling on one side of your face or body including your arm or leg.
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Vision problems. You may have sudden double vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
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Speech problems. You may have sudden trouble talking, slurred speech, or problems understanding others.
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Headache. You may have a sudden, severe headache.
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Movement problems. You may have sudden trouble walking, dizziness, a feeling of spinning, a loss of balance, a feeling of falling, or blackouts.
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Seizure. You may also have a seizure with a large or hemorrhagic stroke.
B.E. F.A.S.T. Reminder for Stroke Signs
B.E.F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the warning signs of a stroke, and what to do if someone near you is experiencing them.
B.E. F.A.S.T. Stands for…
B – Balance
Is there a sudden difficulty with balance or coordination? Is walking or sitting difficult?
E – Eyes
Is there a sudden change in eyesight such as blurred vision, double vision, or a loss of vision in one or both eyes without pain?
F – Face
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
A – Arm
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech
Is speech slurred or difficult to understand? Are they unable to speak at all? Ask the person to repeat is simple sentence like “It is a bright and sunny day.”
T – Time to call 911!
If a person shows any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 to get them to the hospital immediately. Time is very important. The sooner they get to the hospital, the more likely they are to receive stroke reversing and potentially life-saving treatment.