Stroke
September 13th, 2006 by RespiteMatch.com
Key Words
aphasia, brain attack, clot-buster, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, mini-stroke, stroke, TIA, tissue plasminogen activator, transient ischemic attack, tPA
Glossary
Aphasia: The loss of language due to stroke, brain injury or a neurological condition
Hemorrhagic stroke: A stroke caused by a ruptured blood vessel that causes bleeding in the brain
Ischemic stroke: A stroke caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain
Stroke: A brain attack that occurs when a blood clot, ruptured artery or broken blood vessel interrupts the blood flow to the brain
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): A mini-stroke caused by the temporary blockage of an artery in the brain
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Stroke is a brain attack; it’s often called “the silent killer” because one can suffer one or multiple strokes and be unaware that strokes have occurred.
A stroke occurs when a blood clot, ruptured artery or broken blood vessel interrupts the blood flow to the brain. Unless the blood flow is restored quickly, the brain cells close to the clot or broken blood vessel become damaged and die. Depending on which part of the brain is damaged, the stroke survivor will have temporary or permanent problems with sensation, mobility, language, speech, behaviour, thought and memory. Brain damage from a stroke may also cause mood swings, behaviour and personality changes, and dementia. For every five people with stroke, one will make a full recovery, three will have permanent neurological disabilities, the fifth will die.
Please see Answers to commonly asked questions about stroke.
Things You Should Know
Stroke:
is the leading cause of neurological disability in adults
is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada
can occur at any age — one-third of all people who get stroke are under 65
can occur on either side of the brain. If it occurs on the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected and vice versa.
Types of stroke
Ischemic stroke
occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke
occurs when a ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding in the brain.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke
is caused by a temporary blockage in an artery in the brain.
Treatments for stroke
Drug treatments
Clot-buster drugs
tPA — tissue plasminogen activator (must be administered within 3 hours of stroke onset)
Anti-coagulants (blood thinners)
ASA — aspirin
Warfarin
Antiarrhythmic drugs
Treats atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat which is a risk factor for stroke.
Surgery
Carotid endarterectomy
To remove blockages in the neck’s carotid artery which delivers blood to one side of the brain.
Angioplasty
Inserting a small, inflated balloon into a narrow artery to open it.
Stent
A steel screen that is implanted into an artery to hold it open after an angioplasty balloon has been removed.
Clipping or tying off an aneurysm
To prevent the aneurysm (a ballooning-out of the wall of an artery) from bursting inside the brain and causing a stroke.
Lifestyle adjustments
quit smoking
cut down the amount of fat in the diet
increase physical activity
monitor and treat risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated blood cholesterol
Rehabilitation
Rehab is most effective if begun within 24 hours of the stroke and can consist of any or all of the following:
physiotherapy
occupational therapy
speech and language therapy
recreational therapy
psychotherapy
