 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
StrokePublished by BUPA's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, July 2007. This factsheet is for people who have had a stroke, or would like more information about stroke. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. 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.
About strokeBlood vessels called arteries carry blood to different parts of your body, including your brain. A stroke is what happens when the normal flow of blood to the brain is blocked. Without blood, parts of the brain are starved of oxygen and nutrients. This damages brain cells and they begin to die. Every year in the UK, over 110,000 people have a stroke - it's the third most common cause of death. Four in 10 people who survive a stroke are left with a disability. A stroke is a medical emergency, so recognising the symptoms quickly and getting early treatment in hospital is important. Most people who have a stroke are over 65, but many are younger than this. Anyone can have a stroke, including babies and children. Types of stroke
Symptoms of strokeThe symptoms of a stroke vary depending on the type of stroke and the part of the brain it affects. Stroke symptoms include:
Stroke symptoms usually come on suddenly, within seconds or minutes. Rarely, the symptoms can get worse over a period of hours or days. How severe the symptoms are depends on where in the brain the stroke happened and how many brain cells were affected. Complications of strokeOne 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:
Other complications of stroke can include seizures (fits), depression - especially in the weeks and months after the stroke - and incontinence. Causes of strokeAs you age, your arteries become hardened and narrowed. Fatty deposits called atheroma can build up in the walls of the arteries that carry blood to and within the brain. This makes the arteries narrower and more easily blocked by a blood clot, causing a stroke. A blood clot from the heart or one of the arteries in the neck can travel through the bloodstream to the brain. This is called an embolism. Blood clots from the heart are more likely to form when the heart is beating irregularly (arrhythmia). You are more likely to have a stroke if you have a condition known as atrial fibrillation. This is where two of the chambers in your heart (the atria) twitch irregularly instead of pumping blood in a rhythmic way. You are also more likely to have a stroke if you have:
You are also more likely to have a stroke if you:
Diagnosis of strokeYour doctor can diagnose a stroke by hearing about your symptoms and examining you. To work out what type of stroke you have had and which part of your brain is affected, you will need to have a brain scan as soon as possible after the stroke. This will be either an MRI scan or a CT scan (see Related topics). You may also need to have blood tests and other scans of your heart and blood vessels. Your doctor may also do tests to find out why the stroke happened so you can have treatment to prevent further strokes in the future. This includes tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may also check for blood clotting abnormalities and rare conditions that can sometimes be the cause of stroke. Treatment of strokeMedicinesYour doctor may prescribe medicines soon after your stroke. Aspirin is known to help reduce the disability caused by an ischaemic stroke and to prevent further strokes. Medicines that break down a clot may also be given for certain types of ischaemic strokes. One of these clot-dissolving drugs is called alteplase (Actilyse). If this can be given within three hours of the stroke, it may help to reduce disability. However, there are risks associated with this treatment, including bleeding into the brain. SurgeryBrain surgery may be needed after a haemorrhagic stroke. Your doctor will explain the surgery to you. Stroke unitsSome hospitals have specialist stroke units. The structured programme of care from specialist staff has been shown to improve the speed and amount of recovery someone makes, and reduces the chance of complications. People who have had a stroke should aim to move regularly or be turned in bed if unable to move. This reduces the chance of getting pressure ulcers (bed sores) and of developing a blood clot in the leg veins. Stroke rehabilitationThis is a crucial part of stroke treatment as it helps to ensure the best possible recovery from any of the effects of a stroke, such as paralysis or speech problems. An intensive programme of rehabilitation after a stroke involves a team of several different healthcare professionals, usually including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and counsellors. Specialist equipment such as splints, callipers and braces can help with paralysis and contractures. Stroke recovery happens when undamaged areas of the brain learn to compensate for the damage done by the stroke and take over some of the tasks of the damaged areas. Stroke recovery can be difficult to predict; most people will make most of their recovery in the early weeks and months following the stroke. However, recovery can continue after this time. Prevention of strokeIf you or someone you know has symptoms of a stroke or mini stroke (TIA), you should call an ambulance and go to hospital immediately - don't wait for your GP to come round or for the next morning if it happens during the night. Early treatment may be available to limit the damage caused by the stroke and reduce any disability. You are more likely to have a stroke in the future if you have had a TIA. So if you have symptoms of a TIA, it's important to see a doctor who specialises in stroke within a week. Many hospitals have dedicated clinics for assessing people who have had a TIA. To help prevent a further stroke, it's always worth stopping smoking. It's also important to have your cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked and lowered with diet and medication if needed, and to keep good control of diabetes if you have it. Eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise can also reduce your risk of having a stroke. Further information
Sources
Related topics
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
|||||
| ||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|