Brain stroke: Causes and Emergency Management
Humans are more prone
to severe health problem in present day situation as compared to previous time
because of some technical progression leading to negative repercussion and poor
lifestyle.
Stroke is explained as sudden neurological
deficit caused by impairment of perfusion to the brain. Stroke or
cerebrovascular accident is a serious medical syndrome possibly caused when
blood supply to brain is interrupted and lead to loss of brain cells. In simple
language, a stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of human brain is cut off. When
oxygen is disrupted in blood, brain cells start dying within minutes. Brain
stroke is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide.
A stroke is a kind of
medical emergency because strokes can be deadly or incur permanent disability. Attendants
must rush to hospital and patient of ischemic strokes needs treatment in the
first few hours after the signs of a stroke beginning.
Stroke can be of two types:
Stroke may be due to
ischemia, blocked artery, or it can be haemorrhagic, bursting of blood vessel.
In majority of cases, a blood vessel that takes blood to brain gets plugged.
Another type of
stroke is Hemorrhagic stroke. There is low frequency of this type of stroke as
compared to an ischemic stroke but can be more serious. A blood vessel in brain
balloons up and bursts, or a weakened one leaks. It may be due to abnormally
high blood pressure and consuming excessive blood thinner medicine.
Symptoms and Signs of stroke:
The symptoms of a
stroke vary in patient. It totally depends upon the area of the brain affected
by lack of oxygen. All strokes have symptoms related to damage of nerve
function. The symptoms arise abruptly and mainly occur on one side of the body.
These are as under.
-
Numbness
-
Weakness
-
Tingling
-
Vision
loss or changes
Other symptoms
include confusion, changes in the level of consciousness, trouble in speaking,
trouble in understanding speech, vertigo, and balance problems. Headache,
nausea, and vomiting in stroke indicate that there is bleeding inside the
brain.
Risk factors for
brain stroke are obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, cigarette smoking
and diabetes. Furthermore genetics has vital role in developing this deadly
condition. Brain stroke has dangerous health consequences such as paralysis of
contralateral sides of the body, impairment of cognitive function, emotional difficulties
and abnormal behaviours. Males are more susceptible to brain stroke as compared
to females.
Diagnosis and
treatment:
For effective
treatment of brain stroke, emergency team needs to evaluate the type of stroke
patient is having and the areas of brain affected by the stroke. Neurologists
may conduct several tests to diagnose the causes and risk factor of stroke.
In emergency
treatment, doctor must quickly restore blood flow to brain for the treatment of
an ischemic stroke. Treatment with clot-busting drugs must be started
within 3 hours if they are given into the vein.
In medical
researches, it is mentioned that aspirin is an immediate treatment given in the
emergency case to lessen the probability of having another stroke. Aspirin
prevents blood clots from forming. But it must be assured with treating doctor.
For emergency
treatment of haemorrhagic stroke, doctors mainly focus to control patient’s
bleeding and dropping pressure in brain. Sometimes surgery is done to help
reduce future risk.
Quick treatment of
stroke increase the chances of survival of patient. When person is affected by
stroke, time has great value. Attendants must call immediately to nearby clinic
for instant treatment. Meanwhile, attendants must make the patient in comfortable
position. Sooner, patient should be lying on one side with their head slightly
raised and supported in case they vomit. It is not recommended to give anything
to eat or drink.
To avoid stroke,
person must improve their lifestyle. They must take a healthy diet, increase
intake of fruits, vegetables, fish and certain herbs such as garlic. Eating
oranges and other citrus fruits may help reduce stroke risk
To sum up, stroke
occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or is congested by a blood
clot. It is imperative to give treatment immediately to save patient’s life.
Important: This article is developed through environmental information and/ or personal view of writer. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement
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