CEREBRO VASCULAR ACCIDENT

STROKE;AN HYPERTENSIVE DISORDER

• INTRODUCTION

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It's sudden and can cause immediate loss of feeling and weakness, usually on one side of your body. A stroke can also affect your speech, vision, memory and emotions.

• TYPES OF STROKE

1.Ischaemic stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked by a blood clot or a piece of fatty material

2.Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding inside the brain. This can be due to a blood vessel bursting inside the brain, or, more rarely, on the surface of the brain.

3.Transient ischaemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke") is similar to a stroke, except the symptoms are only temporary. TIAs happen when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted for a short time

• SYMPTOMS OF STROKE

The symptoms of a stroke vary depending on the type of stroke you have had and the part of the brain it affects. Symptoms usually come on suddenly, within seconds or minutes. Rarely, the symptoms can get worse over a period of hours or days.

Stroke and TIA symptoms may include:

• numbness, weakness or inability to move your face, arm or leg on one side of your body
• difficulty speaking
• sudden loss of sight in one eye or blurred vision
• confusion or difficulty understanding
• loss of balance or coordination
• severe headache
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

• COMPLICATIONS

One of the main effects of stroke is not being able to move some or all of your body, as the parts of the brain involved in controlling movement have been damaged. This immobility can increase the chances of getting:

• pneumonia
• pressure sores
• constipation
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• contractures (altered position of the hands, feet, arms or legs due to muscle tightness)

Other complications of stroke can include seizures (fits) - especially in the weeks and months after the stroke.

• RISK FACTORS
  

Risk factors for stroke include:

• smoking
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• being overweight or obese
• diabetes
• a family history of stroke/heart disease
• abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia)
• conditions that increase your bleeding tendency (eg haemophilia)
• regular, heavy drinking
• using illegal drugs, such as cocaine

• DIAGNOSIS
  

You will have a brain scan (a CT scan or an MRI scan) as soon as possible after you have had a stroke to work out what type of stroke you have had and which part of your brain is affected. You may also need to have other scans of your heart and blood vessels.

Your doctor will try to find out why the stroke happened so you can have treatment to prevent further strokes in the future. You may have tests to detect:

• raised blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• irregular heart rhythms
• blood clotting abnormalities

• TREATMENT

Your doctor may prescribe medicines soon after your stroke. If you have had an ischaemic stroke or a TIA, these may include medicines to prevent further blood clots, such as aspirin or clopidogrel. If you have had a haemorrhagic stroke, you may be given medicines to promote blood clotting and reduce bleeding and/or medicines to control your blood pressure.

You may sometimes be offered surgery to reduce your risk of having another stroke. This will depend on the type of stroke you have had.