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Friday, May 15, 2015

Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke) ::


Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) or stroke is a medical emergency condition in which the brain cells suddenly die because of a lack of oxygen. A stroke can be caused by an obstruction in the blood flow, or the rupture of an artery that feeds the brain. The patient may suddenly lose the ability to speak, there may be memory problems, or one side of the body can become paralyzed.
Types
The two main types of stroke include ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.
1. Ischemic stroke :
Ischemic stroke accounts for about 87 percent of all strokes and occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms that blocks blood flow to part of the brain.
If a blood clot forms somewhere in the body and breaks off to become free-floating, it is called an embolus. This wandering clot may be carried through the bloodstream to the brain where it can cause ischemic stroke.
2. Hemorrhagic stroke :
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel on the brain's surface ruptures and fills the space between the brain and skull with blood (subarachnoid hemorrhage) or when a defective artery in the brain bursts and fills the surrounding tissue with blood (cerebral hemorrhage).

Both types of stroke result in a lack of blood flow to the brain and a buildup of blood that puts too much pressure on the brain.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for stroke include the following :
1. Age - as you get older your risk increases
2. Being male
3. High blood pressure
4. A family history of stroke
5. High cholesterol
6. Smoking
7. Diabetes
8. Obesity and overweight
9. A previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
10. High levels of homocysteine (an amino acid in blood)\
11. Divorced men have a higher risk of stroke.
Signs and Symptoms
Stroke symptoms typically start suddenly, over seconds to minutes, and in most cases do not progress further. The symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected. The more extensive the area of brain affected, the more functions that are likely to be lost. Some forms of stroke can cause additional symptoms. For example, in intracranial hemorrhage, the affected area may compress other structures. Most forms of stroke are not associated with headache, apart from subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral venous thrombosis and occasionally intracerebral hemorrhage.
- Trouble walking, loss of balance and coordination
- Speech problems
- Dizziness
- Numbness, weakness, or paralysis
- Blurred, blackened, or double vision
- Sudden severe headache
- Confusion
See More [Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention] >>>>
http://healthmedicalinfohmi.blogspot.com/…/cerebrovascular-…

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