Introduction
An acute stroke is a serious health condition that should be considered a health emergency. It is a situation where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted because of a blood vessel blockage or a rupture. The reduction of brain tissue damage and a good recovery of the patient depend on the immediate provision of the patient’s care. Going through the symptoms should be the first thing to do, and then deciding without any delay on the action to be taken, as the time here can be the very difference between life and death.
Types of acute stroke
An acute stroke is when the brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients because its blood supply is limited. The different types of stroke are :
Ischemic stroke
It is basically one in which a blood clot in a brain artery stops the flow of blood, so an ischemic stroke is the one that causes approximately 87% of all cases.
Hemorrhagic stroke
It is an instance where blood leaking into the brain is caused by a ruptured blood vessel.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
It is connected to the presence of temporary symptoms, and it is a warning for the next stroke.
Common Symptoms of an Acute Stroke
Time is very crucial when it comes to the symptoms of acute stroke. As soon as these symptoms are observed, the intervention should not be delayed in calling for professional help. The BE FAST letters help to remember the first signs of the condition more easily:
Balance: Personal sudden dizziness and loss of balance or unsteadiness.
Eyes: Seeing becomes blurred or one eye (or both) has dimmed vision.
Face: One side of the face dropping, e.g., smiling or showing the teeth while trying to make a smile.
Arms: One arm drifts down when both arms are raised.
Speech: Speech is difficult, sounds like a mumble, or is not normal.
Time: The emergency department should be called without any delay if one or more of these symptoms appear.
Furthermore, sudden severe headache, confusion, and trouble walking can also be symptoms of a stroke. In case of symptom disappearance, it is still obligatory to seek medical assistance immediately, as a TIA may be the first stage of a stroke.
Causes and Risk Factors
A large number of factors may contribute to a person’s risk of having a stroke. These habits include smoking, excessive drinking, lack of physical activity as well as poor diet.Besides these, the risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol .The person’s age and family history as well as race, are factors that determine the risk of stroke with the elderly and African Americans being more likely to get it.
Diagnosis and Emergency Treatment
The doctors will not think much about what type of stroke it is. They perform either a CT scan or an MRI to find out if the brain is bleeding or if it is suffering from a blockage. In addition, there may be blood tests and heart check-ups.
In the first place, the treatment of ischemic strokes is aimed at rescuing the area that has lost its blood supply. It is only within 4.5 hours after the beginning of the symptoms that the clot-dissolving agent tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) injection will have a positive effect. A mechanical thrombectomy, which is a method to remove a clot with the help of a catheter, may be possible up to 24 hours in some instances.
For hemorrhagic strokes, the cases are totally different. Its primary goal is to stop the bleeding and to reduce the brain swelling. There are also medications to lower blood pressure and prevent seizures, along with these.It might be necessary to repair a ruptured blood vessel or take out the blood that has gathered by means of surgery.
Recovery and rehabilitation
Different people, different times for the recovery from the stroke are what is implied here.
Up to 90% of stroke patients, at least, are reported to show after effects such as muscle weakness, speech difficulties and memory loss. The main thing is to get back the freedom of rehabilitation. In the program, there could be included physiotherapy to recover the lost movement; occupational therapy to get the daily skills again; and speech therapy to make communication easier.
Depression and anxiety may develop after a stroke; therefore, psychological support is usually provided as a part of the recovery plan.
Preventing future Strokes
Definitely, it is necessary that prevention is the very first thing, mainly for those patients who have experienced a stroke or a TIA. Changing one’s lifestyle to a healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and moderating alcohol consumption will all contribute to the reduction of the risk. Moreover, controlling blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol is also very essential.
Frequent consultations with a healthcare professional will be a means of guaranteeing the supervision and regulation of the risks.
Conclusion
An acute stroke is a highly dangerous situation that is dependent on time and immediate intervention for a successful outcome. Knowing what a stroke is, its causes, and the right way to treat it can make a great difference in the number of lives saved and the results obtained. In fact, the majority of patients post-stroke, if given timely intervention and continuous rehab, can recover their functions and level of life. So, if you wish for professional care and modern treatments, a consultation with an Acute Stroke Doctor in Faridabad, like Dr. Arvind Nand, will certainly help you get well quicker and keep good health in the future.