Stroke education / part 1

[skimo]

Greetings!

I'm started a series on stroke education in this forum and hope you will all find some benefit from reading it. As always, if you have additional information that you would like to share...please do! I always welcome and appreciate you sharing your experiences and perspective with the HCW family.

Stroke education / Part 1

Strokes are the 3rd leading cause of death in the US every year, resulting in over 150,000 deaths annually. Of those who survive, this is the leading cause of disability in the US.

It is estimated that 80% of all strokes could be prevented, through better education of self-care and risk factor management, i.e.: high blood pressure, diabetes. The total cost to society is over $30 billion annually in medical cost and lost productivity.

The impact of a stroke on the person and their family and friends is huge and not easily measured, however is undoubtedly a life altering experience for all involved.

Did you know.......

• Twice as many women die from strokes than breast cancer each year?
• More women then men will die from stroke each year?
• African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke as Caucasians?

What exactly is a stroke?

A CVA, Cerebrovascular accident, is also known as a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted and the needed oxygen and nutrients do not reach the brain tissue and cells, and consequently this area of the brain is compromised and cell death occurs within minutes.

This is a good stopping point to clarify a commonly used term ‘mini-stroke.’ I for one am not in favor of using this term, because it sometimes is applied ‘loosely’ and lacks the specificity of the extent of the injury.

In a true stroke, tissue death has occurred and is not reversible. The term ‘mini-stroke’ is often applied to the diagnoses of TIA & RIND, where the brain tissue was temporarily impaired however no permanent damage occurred.

TIA-- Transient ischemic attack--In this diagnosis, the signs and symptoms of a stroke are present, however within 24 hrs they are gone and no permanent damage occurred.

RIND- Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit--In this diagnosis, the signs and symptoms of a stroke are present, however after 24 to 72 hours, but sometimes as long as three weeks, they are gone and cause no permanent brain damage

There are two types of strokes / CVAs: Ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic strokes represent approximately 85% of all strokes. They occur when the blood supply to a portion of the brain is interrupted, usually by a blood clot. If the clot forms in the cerebral artery, this is referred to as a ‘thrombotic’ clot. If the clot has formed elsewhere in the body and has traveled to the cerebral artery, this is an ‘embolic’ clot.

A common example of an embolic clot is from Atrial Fibrillation. Clots will form in the atrium of the heart and eventually travel to the cerebral artery, causing a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes represent approximately 15% of all strokes. These occur when actual bleeding occur in the brain from a ruptured blood vessel or aneurysm. A ruptured blood vessel often occurs from high blood pressure. They are either intracerebral, where the bleeding is in the brain space; or subarachnoid, where the bleeding is between the brain and the skull.

Hemorrhagic strokes are more life-threatening than the ischemic strokes and have a higher fatality rate.





Coming soon.....Part 2: Signs and symptoms

I've added a poll and you have the option of selecting multiple choices in your responses. Thanks!

[skimo]

Link part 2:

Stroke education/Part 2/ Signs & symptoms

[mytuesdays]

[/quote] Hemorrhagic strokes represent approximately 15% of all strokes. These occur when actual bleeding occur in the brain from a ruptured blood vessel or aneurysm. A ruptured blood vessel often occurs from high blood pressure. They are either intracerebral, where the bleeding is in the brain space; or subarachnoid, where the bleeding is between the brain and the skull.

Hemorrhagic strokes are more life-threatening than the ischemic strokes and have a higher fatality rate. [quote]




Thanks for informing people about this...I am 43 and had this happen as a result of high blood pressure. It had got so high the cuff couldn't read it. I lost my speech and couldn't really move at all for 1-2 hours. It was horrible!! I have been put on medication now but this was something I had never knew could happen....untill it happened to me.