Readings about cerberal vascular accidents
“Cerebrovascular accidents are the leading cause of disability in the United States” (Huether, McCance, Rote, 2008, p.382). Stokes tends to have a hereditary component (Huether et al, 2008, p.382). Risk factors for stroke include being of African American descent, having type two diabetes, elevated blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, having contracted Chlamydia, polycythemia and thrombocythemia and sleep apnea (Huether et al, 2008, p.382). There are also a few warning signs of impending stroke to include elevated lipoprotein phospholipids’ A2, and elevated C - reactive protein (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).Because these risk factors are treatable chronic conditions, this leads to the import ants of routine medical care by a primary care physician. Caring for these risk factors can prevent strokes from occurring and prevent the suffering and cost related to this debilitating medical condition.
Thrombotic stroke occurs when a thrombus forms in the arteries supplying the brain or intracranial vessel. This type of stroke is most often caused by atherosclerosis. The person build up plaque over twenty to thirty years, platelets, and fibrin adhere to the plaque creating a clot (Huether et al, 2008, p.382). When this clot breaks off and travels to an area of the brain and causes an occlusion, or a decrease in blood circulation, this is known as a thrombotic stroke. One common precursor to thrombotic strokes is transient ischemic attacks. The individual experiencing these attacks may experience changes in speech, motor function, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. The symptoms from TIA’s reside within 24 hrs. Without treatment 80%of individual have recurrent symptoms in one year (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).
Another common type of stroke is embolic stroke. This type of stroke is when a blood clot from another part of the body, besides the brain breaks off and travels to the brain and causes a decreased blood flow or stoppage of blood to an area of the brain. Common causes of this type of stroke include atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, endocarditis, valvular prostheses, fat emboli from fractures of long bones, and air emboli from surgery (Huether et al, 2008, p.383). Hemmorrhagic stroke is the third most common type of stroke. Common causes of this type of stroke include untreated hypertension, ruptured aneurysms, vascular malformations, tumors, anticoagulant therapy, head trauma, and illegal drug use. This type of stroke is characterized by a ruptured blood vessel or blood seepage into the brain tissue and ventricular system of the brain (Huether et al, 2008, p.383). Lacunar strokes occur in the basal ganglia of the brain and are usually small in size (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).These types of strokes are associated with smoking, hypertension and diabetes (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).
The warning signs of stroke should be taught to the public because, the sooner the person receives treatment the greater their chance of survival and recovery to normal functioning (Huether et al, 2008, p.384). The following symptoms should be referred to a medical professional immediately, severe headache, numbness, tingling in extremities, loss or change in consciousness, weakness, and speech disturbance. There are many types of treatment options today for the various types of stroke but, the key is to seek early treatment to decrease the devastating disability associated with this diagnosis (Huether et al, 2008, p.384).
Huether, S.E., McCance, K.L, Brashers, V. L., &Rote, N.S. (2008). Understanding pathophysiology. St Louis, Missouri, USA: Mosby, Elsevier.
Another common type of stroke is embolic stroke. This type of stroke is when a blood clot from another part of the body, besides the brain breaks off and travels to the brain and causes a decreased blood flow or stoppage of blood to an area of the brain. Common causes of this type of stroke include atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, endocarditis, valvular prostheses, fat emboli from fractures of long bones, and air emboli from surgery (Huether et al, 2008, p.383). Hemmorrhagic stroke is the third most common type of stroke. Common causes of this type of stroke include untreated hypertension, ruptured aneurysms, vascular malformations, tumors, anticoagulant therapy, head trauma, and illegal drug use. This type of stroke is characterized by a ruptured blood vessel or blood seepage into the brain tissue and ventricular system of the brain (Huether et al, 2008, p.383). Lacunar strokes occur in the basal ganglia of the brain and are usually small in size (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).These types of strokes are associated with smoking, hypertension and diabetes (Huether et al, 2008, p.383).
The warning signs of stroke should be taught to the public because, the sooner the person receives treatment the greater their chance of survival and recovery to normal functioning (Huether et al, 2008, p.384). The following symptoms should be referred to a medical professional immediately, severe headache, numbness, tingling in extremities, loss or change in consciousness, weakness, and speech disturbance. There are many types of treatment options today for the various types of stroke but, the key is to seek early treatment to decrease the devastating disability associated with this diagnosis (Huether et al, 2008, p.384).
Huether, S.E., McCance, K.L, Brashers, V. L., &Rote, N.S. (2008). Understanding pathophysiology. St Louis, Missouri, USA: Mosby, Elsevier.
