Hi
there guys!
This post is going to be an article about
strokes. Hopefully some of you will find this interesting and informative.
STROKE
WHAT IS A STROKE?
The
brain is a marvelous machine with great power. It allows us to control our
movement, breathing, makes our heart circulate blood and many other things that
are essential to our very being.
The
brain needs blood to function like the rest of our body, but what happens what
that blood cant get to the brain? A stroke occurs.
A
stroke happens when blood can’t get to the brain. The blood gets carried to the
brain through blood vessels called arteries. The blood traveling to the brain
contains oxygen and essential nutrients for our organs to function. A stroke
usually happens when an artery is blocked or has been ruptured.
Brain
cells are extremely sensitive. They start to die just moments after a stroke
starts.
Some
strokes can last hours if the blood supply hasn’t been completely cut off. If
the blood supply can be returned to normal quickly, some brain cells may
recover otherwise the cells die.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF STROKES
Strokes
can be classified under two categories;
·
Hemorrhagic
·
Ischemic
Ischemic strokes
are those caused by an interruption to the blood supply to the brain, typically
due to blood clots. Ischemic strokes can also be caused by embolism (debris
from another part of the body) and a decrease in blood pressure.
Hemorrhagic
strokes are cause by burst blood vessels and arteries causing an accumulation
of blood to gather inside the brain cavity. This can happen inside the skull
but outside the brain, as well as inside the brain itself.
Hemorrhagic
strokes can also be cause by a strong injury to the head.
Any type of
stroke can be extremely dangerous. They can do irreparable damage to vital
brain cells and can cause death if a stroke is not treated in time.
MEDICATION AND TREATMENTS
Treatment
differs for hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes.
A Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) can be
given to treat ischemic strokes. TPA breaks up clots on the arteries of the
brain. It must be given within 4 hours of the start of symptoms to work.
If
TPA can be given, an Antiplatelet medicine will be given within 48 hours to
stop the platelets in the blood from clumping together.
Treating
hemorrhagic strokes is difficult. Antiplatelet medicine can’t be given as the
bleeding may worsen. However, if the patient is taking them, the patient will
be taken off the medication. If high blood pressure is the cause of a
hemorrhagic stroke, a doctor may prescribe medication to lower the overall
blood pressure.
Surgery
is sometimes needed to fix a hemorrhagic stroke, such as aneurysm clipping,
coil embolization and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) repair.
An
aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery.
An aneurysm clipping procedure is done to
block off the aneurysm from other blood vessels, while decreasing the risk of
it bursting again.
A coil
embolization procedure is less complex compared to the “clipping” procedure. A
tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin and fed up into
the aneurysm site. A tiny coil is then pushed through the tube and into the
aneurysm in order to form a clot and prevent future bursts.
An arteriovenous
malformation is a tangle of faulty arteries and veins in the brain that rupture
causing a stroke.
An arteriovenous
malformation repair can be conducted in a few ways. The removal of the
malformation, radiation used to shrink the blood vessels in malformation or
injecting a substance into the malformation to block blood flow.
STROKES AND EFFECTS ON THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE
Stroke
patients need to maintain an exercise regime for rehabilitation. The need for
rehabilitation is important because of the damage done to brain cells. Skills
such as walking and simply lifting an arm can be difficult for some stroke
patients, so rehab exercise is necessary to regain and maintain motor
functions.
Most
rehab is conducted inside the hospital and secondary rehab with private
specialists. Aerobic fitness is a key aspect of rehabilitation and reducing the
risk of another stroke. Personal trainers can implement personalized training
programs based on aerobic function under guidance of the patients GP or
specialist.
SUPPORT GROUPS
There
are numerous groups that help provide information and support for stroke
survivors and their families.
Some websites
below that can provide assistance;
Article references and
sources
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