Everything You Need to Know About Strokes

This week we tell you everything you need to know about strokes: how they are caused, how you can recognise one, and how they are treated.

Causes

Strokes are caused when the brain does not receive enough oxygen. There are two ways in which this can occur. An ishemic stroke, the more common form, is caused by clots in the blood vessels which supply the brain which stop the blood flow. The second, rarer form is the hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by ruptured blood vessels bleeding into, or around, the brain.

Symptoms

There are various physiological indicators that a stroke has occurred. It is often signalled by a sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg, and especially on a single side of the body. This may be accompanied by sudden confusion, and the inability to speak or understand others' speech.

Trouble seeing in one, or both, eyes can result from a stroke, as can having difficulty walking, and losing balance and coordination. The final symptom of a stroke is a sudden, and severe headache.

The sooner a stroke is identified and treated, the less permanent damage it is likely to do. This is because, the sooner treatment is administered, the more of the brain can be saved.

Cures and Therapies

Accute stroke therapies are administered to try and stop the stroke while it is happening, either to stop the bleeding or to dissolve the clot. If the cause of the stroke is ischemic aspirin is given, as this has the effect of thinning the blood, preventing further clots. With hemorrhagic strokes it it a little less straight forward as the patient must be monitored to ascertain what the cause of the bleeding is. It may be as a result of blood thinning medicines, high blood pressure, head trauma, or blood vessel malformation. Once the cause is identified tre

atment can then be tailored to the patient's need. Immediate emergency care for hemorrhagic strokes is concerned with controlling the bleeding, and medications may be given to reduce blood pressure or to slow the blood flow.

In the case of quickly identified and treated strokes there may be very little lasting damage, however, for some, there may be a need for a range of therapies to relearn certain skills. Strokes can cause paralysis or movement control problems, pain, difficulties using or understanding language, memory and thinking problems, and emotional disturbances, depending on which area of the brain is affected. Rehabilitation therapy involves the input of a range of specialists including physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, specialist nurses and doctors, all of whom work to help patients relearn skills to make them as independent as possible.

Strokes can be damaging but the key to full recovery is knowing and recognising the signs and taking early action to get medical help.