One of the most prevalent medical problems affecting people worldwide is stroke. Around 15 million individuals are affected by this illness, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Stoke, also known as a brain attack, is a disorder that occurs in individuals when the blood supply to the brain stops. It leads to impairing the ability of brain cells to operate. When a person gets a stroke, the brain cells fail to receive oxygen and nutrients, resulting in disability or death.
One can prevent such a situation and reduce the effects if the brain stroke symptoms are identified at an early stage. With the right medications, the severity of the condition can be decreased or eliminated. The neurologists recommend many medicines to treat the disease. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are treated differently with separate medications for each.
Types Of Strokes
There are two basic types of brain strokes: Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke. An ischemic stroke is a common stroke that occurs in individuals. It happens when the blood vessels get blocked or narrowed due to fat accumulation. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when the blood vessel ruptures or leaks from one side. Ischemic stroke can lead to hemorrhagic stroke if the condition is kept untreated.
Signs And Symptoms Of Brain Stroke
The brain stroke symptoms show up in the body areas controlled by the brain cells. One might show the following symptoms before a brain attack:
- Paralysis
- Numbness
- Speaking difficulty
- Slurred speech
- Disorientation, confusion, lack of responsiveness
- Sudden agitation
- Vision issues
- Walking problem
- Lack of coordination
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Sudden headache
- Vomiting
If any of these symptoms are detected, the patient must be immediately taken to a good neurologist at a reputed stroke treatment hospital to get treated. The neurologists at the BLK- Max hospital are well equipped to handle such cases of stroke.
Treatment Of Ischemic Stroke
Depending on the seriousness of the condition, neurologists provide the right treatment for the patient. If a patient is having a moderate stroke, medicine is provided for the treatment. Patients with serious symptoms undergo an emergency surgical procedure. The following are the different treatments for patients with ischemic stroke.
- Thrombolysis: Due to fat deposits in the blood cells, the blood doesn’t flow smoothly and causes clots on the surface. This medicine is a clot buster that separates the blood clots and restores their flow to the brain.
- Thrombectomy: If required, neurologists conduct thrombectomy on the patients. This process is started immediately after the stroke attack. The doctor inserts the catheter into the brain’s artery and removes the blood clot through suction.
- Aspirin: For stroke survivors, neurologists at BLK-Max hospital recommend taking aspirin or other antiplatelets, like dipyridamole and clopidogrel, daily. These help to reduce the formation of clots.
- Anticoagulants: Some patients are provided with anticoagulants, like dabigatran, warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban to decrease the formation of blood clots in the future. It changes the blood’s chemical composition, thereby preventing clot formation.
- Carotid Endarterectomy: This surgical procedure is conducted to unblock the blood artery due to carotid stenosis.
Treatment Of Hemorrhagic Stroke
The following are the treatment for hemorrhagic stroke:
- Surgery: If the blood vessels bleed excessively, the doctors may operate on the area to remove excess blood and reduce pressure on the brain cells.
- Surgical Clipping: In this procedure, the neurologist puts a tiny clamp at the aneurysm base to prevent blood flow inside it.
- Endovascular embolization: This procedure includes inserting detachable coils to avoid blow flow into the aneurysm responsible for blood clot formation.
- Surgical arteriovenous malformations (AVM) removal: If the AVM is on the brain’s surface, the doctors remove it to decrease the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and rupture.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery: It is an advanced treatment wherein multiple radiation beams are used to treat blood vessel malformations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do all patients recover from stroke completely?
A. Patient recovery depends on the treatment they receive. As per statistics, 10% of the patients recover completely from brain stroke, 25% might have minor impairments, and 40% of patients need special care throughout their life. BLK-Max hospital ensures to treat their patients effectively with a success rate.
Q. Can a person with a stroke start walking again?
A. Yes. A patient with a stroke can walk again after resting for the first six months post-operation. Some patients might need two years to regain their walking ability and recover completely.
Q. What are the signs observed in a dying stroke patient?
A. The common signs observed in a dying stroke patient are as follows:
- Dyspnea
- Pain
- Mouth Dryness
- Anxiety
The symptoms can vary for different dying stroke patients. Heart failure and renal disease are other signs that can also be observed in a dying stroke patient.