Understanding Vertebral Artery Dissection (VAD)

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:

• Physical activities such as wrestling, yoga, weight lifting and other sports, trampoline use, or riding a roller coaster

• Childbirth

• Sex

• Coughing or sneezing

• Infection or inflammation

• Strangulation

• Chiropractic manipulation (controversial)

• Motor vehicle accident such as whiplash

Connective tissue disorders or vascular disorders may be linked with dissection, too. 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:

• Headache

• Neck pain

• Tinnitus

• Vertigo

• Face pain and paralysis

• Changes in vision

If you have symptoms of stroke or TIA, call 911.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have had a recent neck injury and have neck pain that isn't getting better or is getting worse.

Call 911

Call 911 if you have:

Symptoms of stroke or TIA. These include:

• 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.

• Vision problems. You may have sudden double vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

• Speech problems. You may have sudden trouble talking, slurred speech, or problems understanding others.

• Headache. You may have a sudden, severe headache.

• Movement problems. You may have sudden trouble walking, dizziness, a feeling of spinning, a loss of balance, a feeling of falling, or blackouts.

• Seizure. You may also have a seizure with a large or hemorrhagic stroke.

B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke. When you see these signs, you need to call 911 fast.

B.E. F.A.S.T. stands for:

• B is for balance. Sudden loss of balance or coordination or trouble walking.

• E is for eyes. Vision changes in one or both eyes.

• F is for face drooping. One side of the face is drooping or numb. When the person smiles, the smile is uneven.

• A is for arm weakness. One arm is weak or numb. When the person lifts both arms at the same time, one arm may drift downward.

• S is for speech difficulty. You may notice slurred speech or difficulty speaking. The person can't repeat a simple sentence correctly when asked.

• T is for time to dial 911. If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 right away. Make note of the time the symptoms first appeared.