Stroke is characterized by symptoms such as loss of balance, slurry speech, and numbness on one side of the body, headache, vision difficulties, or difficulty in speech. This article looks at the types of stroke, their causes, and the forms of therapy used to treat them.
Types and Causes of Stroke
Hemorrhagic Stroke
This happens when a blood vessel raptures in the brain, limiting the amount of blood needed by the brain cells to function. The leaked blood damages the brain cells by putting pressure on them.
There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke. They are subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke where the bleeding occurs between the brain tissues and the thin tissue. In intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, the blood floods the brain cells when the artery bursts.
Causes of a hemorrhagic stroke could be physical trauma, hypertension, blood thinners, an abnormal association between your veins and arteries, or high blood pressure. The ER near you will be ready to serve you if you experience any vision difficulties due to hemorrhagic stroke.
Ischemic Stroke
It is the most common type of stroke and is caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels that transport the blood and oxygen to the brain tissues. There are two types of ischemic strokes known. They include an embolic and a thrombotic stroke.
An embolic stroke happens when a blood clot formed from the other parts of your body travels in the bloodstream to the blood vessels connected to the brain. This type of ischemic stroke could be a result of an irregular heartbeat that encourages the formation of blood clots in the heart.
A thrombotic stroke occurs when the blood clot is formed and dislodges on the artery supplying blood to the brain. Fatty plaques is also a leading cause of clots in the arteries.
Transient Ischemic Attack
An inadequate flow of blood into the brain tissues for a short period causes this. Also known as a mini-stroke, its symptoms resolve without medical intervention. However, you are advised to seek immediate medical care to prevent any risk of getting future strokes, such as ischemic. Clots or a fatty plaque could also cause TIA.
Visit our Express ER (Harker Heights) Emergency Room if you exhibit any of the aforementioned symptoms.
Diagnosis
During your appointment with the doctor at an emergency room near you, they will perform a physical examination and get an outline of your medical history. Moreover, your doctor will do other tests to help with the diagnosis, among which include:
- CT and MRI Scans
CT scans use detailed x-ray images of your brain. A CT scan will outline an ischemic stroke, tumor, or other conditions causing the symptoms. Other times a dye may be injected into your bloodstream to view the veins in your neck and brain. MRI scans will show damaged brain tissues.
- Cerebral Angiograms
A thin, flexible tube is inserted through an incision made in your groin. It is then guided into your vertebral artery. A dye is then injected into the vessels to show a clear image on the x-ray. Detailed images of your brain and neck are then seen and used for analysis.
- Blood Tests
They are done to check how fast your blood clots. Your blood sugar levels are also reviewed.
- Carotid Ultrasound
Here, sound waves are used to show images of your carotid arteries in your neck. It also shows any signs of plaque in the arteries.
- Echocardiogram
It shows detailed images of your heart by using sound waves. An echocardiogram is used to find the source of clots in your heart and those that may have traveled in the brain.
Recovery
Stroke can cause disability in your physical functioning. Once you are diagnosed with a stroke, you should start planning on rehabilitation and recovery. The care team assigned to you will help you stabilize the stroke and identify the effects and underlying factors. Therapy is then done to regain some of your lost physical abilities.
Rehabilitation focuses on four main areas that are:
- Speech Therapy
Stroke causes language and speech difficulties. If your verbal communication skills prove difficult, the speech therapist will help you learn other communication skills.
- Physical Therapy
Stroke may weaken your muscle strength, making movement difficult. A physical therapist will help you find your balance and strengthen your muscle tones.
- Cognitive Therapy
After recovery, you might experience thinking and reasoning skills changes. A professional will help you regain control of your reasoning, behavior, and emotional responses.
- Sensory Skills Therapy
Your senses might be dulled or numb after the stroke. Pain, temperature, or pressure may be difficult for you to perceive. With the help of a therapist, you can be able to regain back your sensory receptors.