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Stroke is one of the common medical emergencies. With the sedentary lifestyle and increased incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure the risk of getting a stroke is also increased. Stroke can be tackled with proper therapy with the help of the best neurologist in Malleshwaram. It can affect people of all age groups, but the elderly are at a higher risk of stroke. Stroke can be debilitating and there are also chances of death if medical attention is delayed.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke is indeed the brain’s equivalent of a heart attack. It occurs when there is reduced or interrupted blood supply to the brain, mostly due to a clot in the arteries. As the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain is insufficient for survival, the brain cells begin to die. It can also be due to a rupture of the blood vessels in the brain. With the advancement of medical sciences, the condition can be treated by dissolving the clot or removing the clots and restoring the blood supply, to the brain, if medical attention is sought early.
There are three primary types of strokes:
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Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or A minor stroke
TIA is a warning sign that the patient has a high risk of getting a large stroke in the near future. However, it can be prevented with proper treatment.
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Ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke occurs due to a blockage which can be caused by either a clot or a plaque inside the artery, which doesn’t allow enough oxygen and nutrients to reach the brain cells. It is the most common type of stroke among people, contributing to 87% of all stroke cases.
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Hemorrhagic stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and the blood seeps into the brain. It can be further classified as intracerebral haemorrhage (inside the brain) or subarachnoid haemorrhage (around the brain).
What Are the Causes of Stroke?
Cerebral embolism and thrombosis are the major causes of Ischemic stroke resulting from blood clots and fatty plaque in the arteries supplying the brain or clots from the heart. Here, the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain are narrowed or blocked by the clots.
Leaky or rupture of arteries causes hemorrhagic stroke which usually results due to hypertension, diabetes, usage of blood thinners (antiplatelets and anticoagulants), arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms.
Risk Factors for Stroke
High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, smoking habits, alcoholism, sedentary, older age, cardiovascular disease, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and family history of stroke. Males are at a higher risk of getting a stroke than females.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
Most people show symptoms such as sudden onset:
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Weakness of arm or leg
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Facial asymmetry or mouth angle deviation
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Numbness
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Impaired vision
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Imbalance while walking
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Lack of coordination
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Vomiting
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Headache
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Seizures (fits)
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Unconsciousness.
How to Diagnose Stroke?
For the proper diagnosis of a stroke, the doctors require the medical history and physical examination to know about the patient’s risk factors and evaluate the balance, coordination, weakness, numbness, confusion, and eye problems. An MRI and CT scan help see whether the brain cells are damaged by stroke. A cerebral angiogram is performed to look at the blockages or clots. A carotid duplex scan or carotid ultrasound can further check for fatty deposits in the carotid arteries. Blood tests will determine blood sugars, cholesterol levels, platelet count, and clotting time. An electrocardiogram will show if a heart attack or atrial fibrillation led to a stroke. An echocardiogram localises the source of clots in one’s heart, which could have travelled to the brain.
What Are the Treatment Options for Stroke?
The treatment options for ischemic strokes and TIA at the best neurology hospital in Malleshwaram, focus on breaking the clots and reversing the blockages inside the blood vessels when presented early. Thrombolytic drugs are mostly preferred to break the clot in case of ischemic stroke. Mechanical thrombectomy can be employed to remove the clot from the vessel if it’s a large clot and if the patient has contraindications for thrombolysis. If the patient gets a stroke due to reduced blood supply to the brain because of the narrowing of the arteries in the neck then a stent may be implanted to open up the narrowing in the blood vessel. If the patient is not fit for stenting and has other diseases then surgical removal of clots and plaques remains the only option.
In case of hemorrhagic stroke medications are used to reduce blood pressure, prevent vessel constriction, prevent seizures, and lower brain pressure can be prescribed. In case of life-threatening swelling or an increase in pressure inside the skull, surgery is required. Treating the aneurysm is also an important factor in the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke, which can be done by coiling (endovascular embolization), surgical clipping, or clamping.
Rehabilitation After a Stroke
Since stroke is among the leading causes of long-term disability, rehabilitation should be started for the residual deficits as soon as possible. Rehabilitation focuses on speech therapy, cognitive therapy, gait therapy, relearning motor skills, and physical therapy. Recovery time varies from person to person. Some people recover completely, while some are left with minimal disabilities after good rehabilitation.
Stroke can be fatal or highly morbid if immediate care is not provided. As per the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, ‘Time lost is brain lost’. Therefore, as soon as the symptoms manifest, the patient should be rushed to the healthcare centres with stroke preparedness and treatment has to be sought immediately. One can also take preventive measures by incorporating regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, etc. These lifestyle changes can greatly reduce the risk of stroke.
FAQs
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Can strokes be cured?
Yes. In many cases, the strokes can be cured if the patient receives immediate treatment and the residual damage to the brain is minimal.
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What is the major cause of Ischemic stroke?
Blood clots inside the arteries that carry blood to the brain are the major cause of stroke.
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How much time does it take for one to recover after having a stroke?
The recovery time varies from person to person. In some cases, the time is as low as 10-12 weeks, while some patients may suffer from the consequences throughout their life.
