Stroke: Causes,Types, Diagnosis And Treatments

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is a serious medical condition that arises when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or is completely cut off. Common signs of a stroke consist of severe headache, weakness, numbness, blurred vision, lightheadedness and indistinct speech, among others.

Stroke is a condition that can cause permanent disability or even death and must be treated urgently. The sooner the patient gets treatment, the less damage is likely to happen to their brain.

TYPES OF STROKE

Strokes are classified as

·         Ischemic stroke

·         Hemorrhagic stroke

·         Transient ischemic stroke (TIA)

Strokes are distinguished by what mechanism causes loss of blood supply.

Ischemic strokes

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. This is caused by an artery in the brain being narrowed or blocked, resulting in ischemia (inadequate blood flow) thus preventing blood supply from being distributed to brain cells.

The blockage of artery can be caused in different of ways. In a thrombic stroke, the artery supplying blood to part of the brain gets narrowed over time because of cholesterol deposition (called plaque). A clot is thus formed at the site of breakage of this plaque that prevents blood flow.

In an embolic stroke, a blockage takes place because of a clot that travels from another vessel. An embolus is a piece of blood clot or fatty plaque that travels down bloodstreams and causes an obstruction. Embolic clots usually come up from the heart vessels.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bursting or leaking of arteries in the brain. The hemorrhaged blood pressurizes the brain cells and damages them. Blood vessels can rupture near the plane of the brain or even the middle of the brain, causing blood spillage in the space between the brain and skull. These ruptures can be caused by badly controlled blood pressure, congenital weakness or ballooning of artery (aneurysms), blood thinners or trauma. It can also be caused due to a medical condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in which an artery and vein connect improperly.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

TIA is a form of stoke in which blood flow is disrupted temporarily for a short duration. They are also referred to as “mini-strokes”.  TIAs are similar to ischemic strokes such that they are caused by clotting. They can last for as long as 30 minutes to several hours at a stretch. TIAs should be taken just as seriously as the other two types of strokes. They serve as a warning that a major stroke can occur in near future.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A STROKE?

·         Sudden weakness

·         Numbness in the face, arm or leg on either side of the body

·         Dimmed vision or abrupt vision loss

·         Uncoordinated speech

·         Loss of sensation

·         Dizziness, sudden falls

·         Loss of balance

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Severe headache

·         Temporary loss of consciousness

If these symptoms pass quickly, then it indicates TIA, which should be taken as a warning of a full stroke.

There seems to be an increased chance of stroke in people with migraine headaches. This is because the mechanism of a migraine includes narrowing of blood vessels. Some episodes of a migraine can mimic symptoms of a stroke.

Men are more at risk than women. Older people are more prone of having stroke, although it can happen to anyone regardless of age, including children. Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet control resulting in high cholesterol levels, diabetes can lead to stroke.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

After a stroke, the first test is a CT scan which shows whether there is bleeding in the brain. This test also determines whether it is an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. An MRI can also be prescribed to some patients. Other tests recommended are an ECG to check for heart problems, followed by blood tests.

Treatment for a stroke depends on the type of stroke the patient suffered and which part of the brain was affected. Strokes are generally treated with medication which includes medicines for dissolving clotting, regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. In severe cases surgery is required to reduce swelling of brain and stop further blood spillage if it is a hemorrhagic stroke.

Aspirin is an immediate treatment to lower chances of another stroke. It prevents blood clots from forming. Some people might benefit from an intravenous injection of plasminogen activator. This restores blood flow by dissolving the clot.

Recovery from a stroke focuses on regaining strength and complete body functions. If the stroke affected the right side of a patient’s brain, then the entire left side of the body may be affected. If the stroke damages the cells of the left side of the brain then the right side of the body is affected. Brain damage on the left side also affects speech. Depending on the condition, a patient’s treatment plan may include a neurologist, a physical therapist and speech therapist.

Walking aids like a cane or a walker should be used to prevent falls.

IndianMedTrip Medical Tourism Consultants can help you find the right doctors for treatment of stroke and the therapies associated with it. You can trust IndianMedTrip to take care of all your needs associated with your trip to India for the treatment. These include scheduling appointments with doctors, Visa, accommodation and if the patient desires to visit some exotic destination to recuperate in the peaceful and tranquil environment then IndianMedTrip will make arrangements for that too. IndianMedTrip is your one-stop solution to take care of all your needs during your medical holiday to India.

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