A super artery that carries blood to the brain: Let's learn about the Vertebral Artery.

Have you ever wondered how this amazing organ called our brain works day and night? The main reason for that is the constant blood supply it receives. We have all heard of the large blood vessels in the front of the neck (the carotid arteries), but did you know that there is another pair of equally important blood vessels that carry blood to the brain from the back of the neck, inside the spine? That is what we are going to talk about today.

Simply put, what is the Vertebral Artery?

The vertebral arteries are two major blood vessels that run through the vertebrae in our neck and supply blood to the brain and spinal cord. To be precise, we have two vertebral arteries , one on the right and one on the left. These two arteries travel up the spine and join together at the base of the skull to form one large blood vessel. We call it the basilar artery. In medical terms, this entire system is called the vertebrobasilar system .

Imagine, our brain is like a big city. There are two main pipes that supply water to that city. One is the carotid arteries that we all know. The other most important pipe is this vertebral artery.

What is the importance of these blood vessels?

The role of these blood vessels is not insignificant. These two vertebral arteries supply 20% of the total blood supply to the brain, which is the control center of our entire body. The remaining 80% comes from the carotid arteries we mentioned earlier.

These blood vessels also branch off into smaller branches. The largest of these branches supplies blood to a very important part of our brain. That is the cerebellum, or cerebellum.

What happens to the cerebellum?

Do you remember how you learned to ride a bicycle when you were a child? How many times did you fall and fall at first? But then you got used to it. In the same way, many things in our body, such as balance , movement , speech, and vision, are finely controlled by this part of the brain. So think about how valuable this vertebral artery is that supplies blood to it.

Where is this vertebral artery located?

These two blood vessels start in the upper part of our chest, just below the collarbone, as blood vessels called the subclavian arteries. From there, they travel upward through special openings (transverse foramen) in the vertebrae of the neck, much like a car going through a set of holes on a mountain road.

In this journey, these blood vessels are divided into four parts and called them. Although this is a bit medical, let's look at it this way to make it easier to understand.

What are the diseases that affect these precious blood vessels?

Like other blood vessels, these vertebral arteries can also have problems. The main problem is the buildup of fat and cholesterol inside the blood vessels. We call this atherosclerosis .

When blood vessels become narrowed like this, several dangerous consequences can occur:

• Blood Clots: Blood flow can become blocked in narrowed areas and blood clots can form. If this blood clot breaks loose and blocks another small artery in the brain, it can be very dangerous.
• TIA (Ministroke) and Stroke: A blood clot or a blockage in the blood supply to part of the brain can damage it. We call this a stroke. Sometimes the symptoms come and go for just a few minutes. This is called a ``Transient Ischemic Attack - TIA'' or ministroke. This is also a serious warning sign of a major stroke.
• Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency: This means that the back of the brain doesn't get enough blood. This can cause symptoms like dizziness, stumbling when walking, and blurred vision.

In addition, there are several other problems:

• Artery Dissection: This is a condition where the wall of a blood vessel can tear due to an accident, neck injury, or certain genetic conditions (e.g. fibromuscular dysplasia). This is also an emergency that can lead to a stroke.
• Bowhunter's Syndrome: This is a rare condition. What happens is that when a person turns their head sharply to one side, a bony growth, called a bulging disc, compresses the vertebral artery. It gets its name because it resembles the posture of someone shooting a bow. Symptoms such as dizziness and blue eyes only occur when the head is turned.

How do we protect these precious blood vessels?

Since the main cause of damage to these blood vessels is the narrowing of the blood vessels (stenosis) that we talked about earlier, the best thing to do is to prevent it. There are some simple, but very important things you can do to do that.

• Be active: Do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Brisk walking, running, or cycling are good options.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet: Reduce foods high in oil, cholesterol, and salt as much as possible. Include fruits, vegetables, legumes, and small fish in your diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight: It is very important to maintain a weight that is appropriate for your height. If you are overweight, try to lose weight gradually.
• Control other diseases: If you have diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol , follow your doctor's instructions and use the prescribed medications exactly to control them.
• Avoid smoking completely: Smoking is the biggest culprit in damaging your blood vessels. If you smoke, make every effort to quit. It's the best thing you can do for your body.

When should you see a doctor?

There are some symptoms that should not be ignored if they appear. These could be signs of a stroke. The best thing to do at such a time is to immediately go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

Don't ignore these symptoms. Time is of the essence in a stroke. Every second that passes without treatment increases the damage to the brain. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical advice immediately.