CVA (cerebrovascular accident) or ‘stroke‘ or ’stroke’ or infarction, or popularly called “brain hemorrhage” or “stroke” means that part of the brains get fed no blood – if it lasts long enough then to vital brain cells die.
The blood supply is stopped by closure of a blood vessel or rupture (break) of a blood vessel.
Once brain cells are dead or no longer functioning. Around an area of severe internal is often an area of the brain where blood supply is reduced but not completely stopped. The cells in this area may be features of the deceased brain cells take over.
Treatment of stroke is therefore primarily aimed at restoring the blood flow so as to minimize the damage.
Types
- Ischemic stroke, sometimes called bloodless stroke. This is a closed vessel by a blood clot, or by thrombosis in the cerebral (brain) vessels, by an embolism (a clot from elsewhere in which a brain cask crash).
- Hemorrhagic stroke, also called bloody stroke. A blood vessel in the brains breaks down and causes bleeding. The accumulation of blood hits the brain in a fix with damage. In addition, other brain cells without blood and death to be equally. The bleeding may occur in the brains or the meninges (subarachnoid).
- TIA or transient ischemic attack – a period of decreased blood supply is a short period of disruption of the blood supply to brain tissue, with short-term function loss. The loss of function within 24 hours to restore, recovery takes longer than we speak of a stroke. TIAs are often a pre-stroke and are therefore an important warning signal. In the first months after a TIA, the risk of a stroke at 20% in the first days after a TIA even higher.
In order to function, the brains need a constant blood supply. Unlike other body cells to grow brain cells deceased once again.
Causes
Major causes are:
- Closure of vessels with ischemia may result from atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis
- Weakening of the wall with dilation (aneurysm) and eventual rupture of the drum has a haemorrhagic infarction due to
- Atrial fibrillation is the known cause for the “shooting” of emboli into the cerebral vessels
When you think of a stroke?
- Sudden weakness in facial muscles, arms or legs, usually unilateral
- Voice Problems, “Lisp”, word find problems etc.
- Sudden blurred vision or complete vision loss, usually unilateral
- Swallowing Problems
- Dizziness and loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache
Less obvious symptoms are trouble with consistency in thinking, mood swings, fatigue and personality changes.
When a suspected stroke is important as soon as possible medical help, because the sooner action can be taken the more restricted the damage will be.
Anatomy
The brains consist of 2 halves, each body part the opposite of each other and coordinate be several function areas.
The left brain controls the right body part and also provides for thinking (cognition), speech and language sense.
The right brain controls the left body part and provide our sense of visual space.
Risks
Anyone, at any age, can get a stroke, but mostly it 55th in people over the years.
Risk factors are:
Lifestyle Factors
- Smoking, smokers have a 2x higher risk of cerebrovascular accidents
- Inactivity, people are typically a little exercise two times higher risk compared with people who regularly exercise
- Alcohol
- Diet, a diet rich in salt and saturated fatty acids is related to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis as the risk of stroke increases
Medical factors
- High blood pressure, this gives an increased risk of both strokes and TIAs
- Cardiovascular problems such as disease, angina pectoris, a myocardial infarction, previous TIA or atrial fibrillation increase the risk increase
- Diabetes mellitus doubles the risk
Other factors
- Age, stroke is more common above the 55th years
- Gender, below 75 years is one stroke more frequently in men
- Ethnicity, stroke is more common in Asians, Africans and people from the Caribbean
- Heredity, having a 1st degree relative who has experienced a stroke at young age (under 50 years) gives an increased risk.
Treatment
Acute phase (first week):
It should prompt investigation to be made to the type of stroke that occurred. Once this is known medication can be administered and, if possible, restore moisture balance.
In halfzijdige paralysis is the treatment method NDT (neuro-development treatment), which means that all aid workers do their best to cripple the side to activate.
Second week:
Mapping of the necessary medical care, diagnosis and completion of any view of the possibilities of the patient.
Hereinafter start of the rehabilitation phase and reactivation.
If possible go home after a stroke, but is sometimes included in a rehabilitation setting (temporarily) required in a nursing home (usually permanent after a serious irreparable CVA).
