Strokes Treatments

A stroke, which used to be medically known as a cerebrovascular accident, is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can come from ischemia which is caused by blockage, or a hemorrhage.

The affected area of the brain is unable to function as a result, which can result in an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body. It can also result in the inability to understand or formulate speech, or an inability to see.

Permanent neurological damage, complications, and death can be caused by a stroke. The leading cause of adult disability in the United States and Europe is a stroke. Stroke is also the second leading cause of death worldwide.  Old age, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, atrial fibrillation and previous stroke or transient ischemic attacks are all risk factors for stroke. The most import modifiable risk factor of stroke is high blood pressure.

A stroke that does not have any outward symptoms is called a silent stroke. Typically, patients are unaware that they have suffered a stroke. Even though there are no identifiable symptoms, damage to the brain is still present. A silent stroke places the patient at increased risk for both a major stroke in the future and a transient ischemic attack. Individuals who have suffered a major stroke are at risk of having silent strokes. A study shows that more than 11 million people were estimated to have experienced a stroke in the United States in the year 1998.

Of these 11 million, roughly 770,000 of these strokes were symptomatic. Lesions are typically caused by silent strokes. These lesions are detected via the use of an MRI or any other neuroimaging procedure. That rate at which silent strokes occur is five times greater than that of symptomatic strokes. Silent stroke risks increase with age. This does not mean that young adults and children cannot experience a stroke.

An ischemic stroke is usually treated with thrombolysis in a hospital. Thrombolysis is also known as a clot buster. In some cases, hemorrhagic strokes benefit from neurosurgery. Stroke rehabilitation is treatment to recover any lost function. This treatment involves health professions such as language and speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Administration of antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and dipyridamole are used to prevent the recurrence of an ischemic stroke. What also helps to reduce the chance of recurrence is the control and reduction of hypertension as well as the use of statins. Some individuals may benefit from the use of anticoagulants and carotid endarterectomy.