STROKE
Stroke:
A stroke is also referred to as a
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) which happens when the blood supply to the brain
is cut off, thus causing the death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen and
nutrients. Strokes are also very dangerous as they may lead to serious
disability or even fatal in some cases hence are associated with rush
healthcare.
Types of Stroke:
1.
Ischemic Stroke:
This type happens when a blood clot enters the brain or when an artery is
narrowed or blocked to allow little blood to reach the organ.
2.
Hemorrhagic Stroke:
It is this type that occurs when a blood vessel that is weak gives way and
starts to bleed in the surrounding brain matter.
3.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): It is also known as a “transient ischemic attack,” or
TIA, and it results from a clot that is temporary. The symptoms are
self-limiting and most commonly last for less than one day.
Signs and Symptoms:
Some
examples include: unpleasant experiences such as: persistant headaches;
confusion; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on
one side of the body.
Disorientation,
slurring or stuttering of speech.
Vision
loss in one or both eyes.
Headache
of the worst kind with no definite history of how it started.
Problems
with walking, dizziness / vertigo / loss of balance or coordination.
Causative Factors:
Hypertension: Strokes could be caused by hypertension
among other symptoms.
Atrial Fibrillation: Any irregularity in the heartbeat
also means the increase in formation of blood clots and puts one at a risk of
stroke.
Smoking: Tobacco use has got an additive effect on
smoking cigarettes and is capable of impairing the blood vessels and leading to
formation of blood clots.
Diabetes: Uncontrolled or unwell managed diabetes
results to complications that affect blood vessels.
High Cholesterol: High cholesterol levels warrant
cause for concern since they are known to cause atherosclerosis that would lead
to stroke.
Prevention:
Healthy Diet: Balancing the nutritive value of food
taken in meals by taking more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat.
Regular Exercise: Doing exercise on preeminently all
the days of the week.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: There are several
favourable and unfavourable which includes obesity being one of the main
threats to the occurrence of stroke.
Quit Smoking: The studies show that the quitting
smoking greatly minimizes the chances of a stroke.
Manage Chronic Conditions: Managing sometime chronic
diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Management:
Ø Pharmacological
Treatment:
Clot-busting drugs: It is a proven treatment
that can dissolve blood in the ischemic stroke, if it is administered within a
certain amount of time using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
Antiplatelet drugs: Others include drugs such
as aspirin that may be used in prevention of blood clots.
Anticoagulants: It is worth stating that these
medications can be used to prevent blood clots in situations such as atrial
fibrillation.
Ø Non-pharmacological
Treatment:
Physical Therapy: Enables a patient to regain
certain motor functions and muscle strength that he or she has lost.
Speech Therapy: Helps to regain skills of
speaking and communication.
Occupational Therapy: Helps in early mobility
and in retraining for daily living.
Lifestyle Changes: Adhering to measures which
serve to decrease chances of repeat strokes.
Complications
of Stroke:
Physical Impairments: Some of the symptoms are
inability to move some parts of the body, muscle weakness and problem in
coordination.
Communication Issues: Problems on language in
terms of speaking and understanding it including aphasia, dysarthria, and more.
Cognitive Challenges: Cognitive impairment
especially memory, impaired problem solving and reasoning.
Emotional Changes: Stress and other related
disorders such as depression, anxiety and mood swings.
Secondary Stroke: Strokes raise that risk and,
after someone has had one, the odds are higher of have another one.
Conclusion:
Strokes refer toayo clinical conditions that
ought to be addressed as soon as possible from the moment that they are
identified. It is important to be aware of the types of stroke, their warning
signs, and symptoms which makes it important to continue reading through this
article. The following some preventive steps that can help in reducing risk of
stroke and its complication are: • A healthy diet coupled with regular physical
exercise helps in reducing weight and lowering blood pressure levels, blood
cholesterol level, blood sugar level and indeed helps to lead a healthy life
away for such conditions . • Knowledgeable and regular medical check-up and
following doctor advise can also reduce stroke risk since early detection and
proper treatment of such conditions as hypertension, diabetes, high levels If
any sign of stroke is noticed then, it is advisable to visit a doctor and gain
prompt treatment to reduce the severity of the stroke as much as possible.
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