A Simple Guide to Stroke, (Cerebrovascular Infarction) Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

This book describes Stroke (Cerebrovascular Infarction), Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Stroke is fairly common nowadays even in younger people.

There is normally someone suffering from one every minute.

It happens when the blood vessel to a part of the brain is blocked (due to a blood clot) or burst.

The brain cells in that part cannot get the oxygen and nutrients so they are damaged and unable to function.

When the brain cells is damaged, there is loss of function of the part of the body controlled by the brain cells

There may be partial or complete paralysis and numbness on the side of the body controlled by the damaged brain cells.

A stroke is also known as a cerebrovascular infarction or cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

The damaged brain cells may affect language and vision as well.

The body will not be the same as before.

The mind will also be affected with some patient having severe depression and some loss of function of the brain.

More things have to be done to help a patient who has had to deal with a stroke.
Many times that person will think that his life is over and that there is no hope

It is important to know that there are researchers out there finding new things all the time to help people dealing with a stroke.

For many of these years, there was no hope for anyone suffering from a stroke.

In recent years, the researchers have found new treatments to help people get through these difficult times and move on to better things ahead of them.

It is very important to keep positive and have the best attitude possible when having to deal with getting over a stroke.

My partner Dr Tan was found to be lying on the floor in my clinic at Holland one evening at 6pm in 1997 by one of my clinic assistant.
I was called to the clinic and found him on the floor. He was still conscious and told me that he was feeling giddy. However on examination when I lift his left hand and let it drop, it just fell down to the floor. The left leg was similarly affected whereas his right arm and leg was not. There was also evidence of the positive Babinski sign a typical feature of stroke. His blood pressure was 240/ 120.
He was seen by a consultant neurologist and quickly treated for his blood pressure.
In the meantime a CAT Scan of his brain confirmed hemorrhage in his brain on the right side.

Admission to hospital is necessary to determine
1. The cause of the stroke
2. The extent of damage to the brain using MRI of the brain
3. Immediate treatment with medicines (usually anticoagulant, blood circulation, nerve vitamins).
4. Whether Surgery is essential to stop bleeding or remove a blood clot
5. Risk factors for stroke are determined and treated (diabetes, high blood pressure etc)

During the acute phase of stroke:
1. A clear airway must be maintained
2. Adequate fluid and electrolyte intake must be maintained
3. Adequate nutrition in the form of glucose, proteins and calories must be given
4. Adequate nursing care is provided to prevent bed sores etc
5. Proper medicines are given.

If the brain is hemorrhaging the bleeding must be stopped.
If the blood vessel is blocked due to a blood clot or narrowing, an anticoagulant like heparin can be given to dissolve the blood clot

6. The underlying cause like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol must be controlled.

7. Rarely surgery may be required to reduce pressure in the brain from excessive bleeding or to stop the bleeding from a burst blood vessel or aneurysm.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Stroke (Cerebrovascular Infarction)
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Prevention of Stroke
Chapter 8 Cerebral Aneurysm
Epilogue