THe ABCs of Stroke: types, symptoms , prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation explained

 

 

 Stroke is ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide with an annual mortality rate of about  5.5 million. Not only does the burden of stroke lie in the high mortality but the high morbidity also results in up to 50% of survivors being chronically disabled. Thus stroke is a disease of immense public health importance with serious economic and social consequences. The public health burden of stroke is set to rise over future decades because of demographic transitions of populations, particularly in developing countries.

What is Stroke?

A  Stroke occurs due to a decrease in oxygen in the brain. Bleeding or blockage of blood supply to the brain can cause this.  Immediate emergency treatment helps prevent life-threatening consequences.

Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease. This means that it affects the blood vessels that feed the brain oxygen. If the brain does not receive enough oxygen, damage may start to occur.

 

Types of Stroke and their treatments

1. Ischemic Stroke: An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage or narrowing of an artery.  Treatment usually focuses on restoring adequate blood flow to the brain.

 Treatment: This begins with taking drugs to break up clots and prevent other clots from forming.  Doctors may give injections of blood thinners, such as aspirin, or tissue plasminogen activator (TPA).

 TPA is very effective in dissolving clots. However, the injection should be given within 4.5 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. 

Emergency procedures include administering TPA directly into the arteries of the brain or physically removing the clot using a catheter. The benefits of these methods are currently under investigation. 

There are other steps the surgeon can take to reduce the risk of stroke and her   TIA.   For example, carotid endarterectomy opens the carotid artery and removes plaque that can rupture and travel to the brain.

 Another option is angioplasty.  Surgeons use a catheter to inflate a small balloon over the narrowed artery.   A mesh tube or stent is then inserted into the opening. This prevents the artery from narrowing again.

  

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke - A   leak of blood into the brain can cause a hemorrhagic stroke. Treatment focuses on controlling bleeding and relieving pressure on the brain. 

Treatment: This often begins with taking drugs to reduce pressure in the brain,  control overall blood pressure,  prevent attacks,  and prevent sudden narrowing of blood vessels.

 If you are taking blood-thinning anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, such as warfarin or clopidogrel, you may be given drugs that make the blood-thinning drugs less effective. 

Surgeons can repair some of the vascular problems that caused or could cause a hemorrhagic stroke.   If an aneurysm  (a   bulging blood vessel that can burst)   is causing a hemorrhagic stroke,  the surgeon places a  small clamp at the base of the aneurysm or fills it with a   removable coil to stop blood flow.   It may constrict the aneurysm.

 If the bleeding is from the AVM, the surgeon can remove it.  AVM   is the connection between arteries and veins that bleed easily.

3. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): This occurs when there is insufficient blood flow to part of the brain for a short period.  After some time,   normal blood flow is restored and the symptoms disappear without treatment. Some people call this a mini-hub.

 People should TREAT them as medical emergencies, even if the symptoms are temporary. They serve as warning signs for future strokes and indicate a partially blocked artery or clot source in the heart.

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source, over a third of people who experience a TIA have a major stroke within a year if they do not receive any treatment. Around 10–15% of people will have a major stroke within 3 months of experiencing a TIA.

Rehabilitation

A stroke is a potentially life-changing event that can have lasting physical and emotional effects.

Successful recovery from stroke often requires specific treatments and support systems, including:

• Speech Therapy- This helps with problems producing or understanding speech. Practice, relaxation, and changing communication styles can all make communicating easier.

• Physical Therapy- This helps a person relearn movements and coordination. It can be difficult at first,   but it is important to stay active.

•  Occupational Therapy:  This helps improve your ability to perform daily activities such as bathing, cooking, dressing, eating, reading, and writing.

•  Support Groups:  Joining a support group can help you deal with common mental health issues that can occur after a stroke, such as Depression.  Many people find it helpful to share common experiences and share information.

• Support from Friends and Family: Close friends and relatives should try to provide practical support and comfort after a stroke.  Friends and family need to know what they can do for themselves.

 Rehabilitation is an important and ongoing part of stroke care.   Depending on the severity of the stroke, a normal quality of life can usually be restored with proper help and support from relatives.

 

Prevention

The best way to prevent stroke is to address the underlying cause.  People can achieve this by making lifestyle changes such as:

• Eating healthy 
• Maintain a moderate weight
• Regular   exercise 
• Don't   smoke 
• Avoid   alcohol or drink   in   moderation  

Be sure to limit the amount of red and processed meat, cholesterol, and saturated fat in your diet.   You also need moderate salt intake to support healthy blood pressure. 

Other steps a person can take to reduce the risk of stroke include:

• check blood pressure 
• coping   with diabetes
• being   treated for heart disease

 In addition to these lifestyle changes, taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications may reduce the risk of having another stroke.  

 
Causes and Risk Factors

Different types of strokes have different possible causes.  However,   in   general, stroke is more likely if you:

• are overweight or obese 
• over 55 years old 
• have a personal or family history of stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have diabetes
• high cholesterol
• have heart disease, carotid artery disease, or other vascular disease
• sedentary
• alcohol overdose 
• smoke
• use illegal drugs

Some studies have found that men are at a higher risk of dying from stroke than women.  However, a 2016 review of studies suggests that these differences do not take into account adjustments for race, age, stroke severity, and other risk factors.

The review explains that stroke mortality risk is often increased by age and demographics rather than by biological differences between men and women.

 

Symptoms

Stroke symptoms often appear without warning. Some of the main symptoms are: 

• Confusion, including difficulty speaking or understanding language 
• Headache with unconsciousness or vomiting
• Numbness or inability to move part of the face, arms, or legs,   especially one side of the body
• Visual   impairment in one or both eyes
• Difficulty walking, such as dizziness or incoordination.

Stroke can lead to long-term health problems. Depending on the speed of diagnosis and treatment, a person may experience temporary or permanent disability after a stroke.

Some people may also experience:

• Urinary or bowel control problems
• Depression
• Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body
• Difficulty controlling or expressing your emotions

 

Diagnosis

A stroke begins immediately.  For best results,   he should be treated at the hospital within 3 hours of the first onset of symptoms. 

There are several diagnostic tests a doctor can use to determine the type of stroke. These include:

• Physical examination:  The doctor will ask about the person’s symptoms and medical history.  Test your muscle strength, reflexes, senses,   vision, and coordination. They may also check your blood pressure, listen to the sounds of the arteries in your neck, and examine the blood vessels behind your eyes.  

• Blood tests:  Your doctor may do blood tests to determine if you're at an increased risk of bleeding or blood clots,  to measure levels of certain substances in your blood,  such as clotting factors, and to see if you have an infection. 

• CT scan: A series of X-rays that can show bleeding in the brain,   stroke, tumors, or other conditions.  

• MRI scans:  These use radio waves and magnets to create images of the brain so doctors can see damaged brain tissue. Carotid artery ultrasound:  Doctors perform an ultrasound to examine the neck.   Check the blood flow in the arteries to see if there is a   stenosis or plaque.  

• Cerebral angiography:  A doctor may inject a dye into the blood vessels of the brain and visualize them with an X-ray or MRI. This allows a detailed view of blood vessels in the brain and neck.  

• Echocardiogram:  Creates detailed images of the heart.   Doctors can use it to look for the cause of blood clots that may have traveled to the brain.

The type of stroke can only be confirmed by a brain scan at the hospital.

 Stroke is one of the major health issues in the world so if you've it or are likely to have it ensure you take precautions like:

•          Regular health checkups
•          Taking your medications
•          Rehabilitation
•          Eating healthy
•          Getting Educated
•         Support from family and friends