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• Thrombosis Presence of a clot of
coagulated blood also called as thrombus in the blood vessel.
•Subarachnoid hemorrhage This is the result of rupturing of
blood vessel on brain’s surface resulting in loss of blood
supply to the brain and death of brain cells
• Cerebral hemorrhage This is the condition of bleeding in the
brain i.e. into cerebral hemisphere of the brain including the
subcortical white matter. The bleeding is because of the
ruptured blood vessel.
• Cerebral aneurysm is the swelling of the blood vessel that may
rupture. It is the common cerebrovascular disorder that may
result from congenital defects, head injury, hypertension etc.
• Subdural hematomas is a collection of pus in the brain caused
by bacteria or a fungus which is also called as a brain abscess.
• Certain drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines may also result
in strokes.
• Imbalance of certain substances such as sodium, calcium or
glucose in the body can be a cause for the strike since they
cause changes in the nervous system.
•The other causes include congenital cerebral aneurysm and
ruptured cerebral aneurysm and Stokes Adams syndrome.
Signs or symptoms of stroke
Strokes which are small may not cause any symptoms but they may
still damage the brain tissues. Such strokes are called silent
strokes.
Strokes are usually recognized by the following:
• A person may feel weak or get paralyzed on any side of the
body. This is the most common syndrome.
• Breathlessness.
• A person may loose his/her speech and the muscles of the face
get weaker. Numbness in the face leg, arm or face is common.
• Partial or complete loss of controlled movement and sensation
in the leg or arm.
• If the base of the brain is affected due to stroke then it can
affect vision and swallowing conditions.
• Unconsciousness.
Diagnosis or treatments
Following are certain tests and treatments conducted for
strokes:
MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) :
MRI Scan This type of scan uses magnetic waves which are
harmless rather than X-rays to view the brain. MRI scan takes
detailed pictures compared to other scans such as CAT. The only
disadvantage of this type of scan is that people with medical
devices such as pacemakers cannot be exposed to magnetic field
of MRI scan.
Carotid Doppler Ultrasound :
Carotid Doppler Ultrasound This type of scan uses sound waves to
find the narrowings and decreased blood flow in the artery. It
is used without injecting or placing tubes.
CAT Scan : CAT Scan It is
also called as CT scan and is used to determine bleeding into
the brain performed by a special x-ray test.
TPA : TPA It stands for
tissue plasminogen activator, a medicine given as an immediate
treatment for strokes. It is injected through veins and if done
within the first three hours of symptoms it can improve the
patient’s stroke over long term.
Blood tests : Blood tests
Blood tests are done to measure certain blood proteins that
thicken the blood thereby increasing the chances of stroke.
Conventional angiogram :
Conventional angiogram This test is conducted to view a clear
picture of the blood vessels. Usually a long catheter tube is
inserted along with a dye and x-rays are taken simultaneously.
Heart tests : Heart tests
Sound wave tests such as echocardiogram are done to evaluate the
heart function in order to search an embolism. This test is done
by placing the device on the chest or below the food pipe.
Rehabilitation : Rehabilitation
This process is basically done to improve the patient’s
functional abilities after a stroke. It includes
• Physical treatment to improve walking.
• Speech therapy to improve swallowing and talking.
• Family education to help them face challenges in life.
• Occupational therapy to regain strength in arms and hands.
Use of Heparin and Aspirin :
Use of Heparin and Aspirin Anticoagulants such as Heparin
and aspirin is given to thin the blood hoping in improving the
patient’s recovery. These drugs have a measurable or small
effect on recovery.
Treating diabetes :
Treating diabetes Blood sugar control is essential to prevent
the risk of stroke in diabetes patients. An increase in the
level of blood cholesterol causes block in blood vessels of the
brain. When these blood vessels block in the brain smaller
strokes may occur.
Research is done on additional drugs that dissolve the clot. The
study is mainly done to find which stroke patients are benefited
out of it. These drugs are injected through the veins and are
known as “neuroprotective” agents. Examples include sipatrigine
and chlormethiazole. Impact of stroke are bad in United States
wherein about 400,000 people suffer each year from stroke out of
which around 40% is fatal.
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