Stroke

What Is a Stroke? - NHLBI, NIH, [online] Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stroke, [Accessed 4 Sep. 2015] The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute website is aimed on the prevention and treatment of heart, lung and blood disease. The NHLBI provides worldwide leadership for a research, training, and education programs. They aim to enhance the health individuals around the world, hoping for the outcome of a healthy fulfilled life. The section on strokes the…

referred to as a “stroke” is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when there is diminished blood flow being delivered to the brain. The two major types of strokes are ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke occurs when there is an obstruction in the brain caused by a blood clot and a hemorrhagic stroke results in sudden bleeding in the brain when a blood vessel ruptures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders [NIND] (2011) reports that nearly 80 percent of strokes account…

Stroke rehabilitation is provided in several different ways. The most common ways include physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. According to Dr. Jose Vega, stroke rehabilitation is the process by which a stroke survivor works with a team of healthcare providers with the aim of regaining as much of the function lost after a stroke as possible (Vega, 2008). Dr. Cluett states “A physical therapist is a specialist trained to with you to restore your activity, strength and…

Stroke is the most preventable neurological disease, and this is mainly because, many of its risk factors such as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking can be prevented either through healthier lifestyle choices or by medication. “In the management of stroke, speedy access to medical service is crucial, as delays result in poor outcome” (Donkor, Owolabi, Bampoh, Aspelund, & Gudnason, 2014). Stroke occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, caused by…

A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries that lead to and/or are located within the brain. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disabilities in the United States.1 The types and degree of disabilities that result from strokes will depend on the type of stroke that has occurred and what part of the brain was damaged. Likewise, the rehabilitation regimes are individualized, revolving around the specific abilities that were affected by the stroke. A stroke…

The REGARDS Study is a national study that focuses on learning more about the factors that increase a person’s risk of having a stroke. It is an observational study of stroke risk factors in adults 45 years and older. There are 30,239 participants that were recruited between 2003 and 2007. The researchers used traditional risk factors to assess the level of risk among black and white participants. Risk factors include: age, race, gender, geographic region, hypertension, diabetes, low HDL…

Personal and Medical History of a Stroke Patient This week part of my clinical experience involved taking care of a patient 51 year old female named L.B. who has a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and who had a stroke last December. She was hosting a christmas party at home when she had a stroke. She was drinking and socializing with her family. At first her son-in-law thought she just had too much to drink because she wasn’t “making sense” so he helped back to her bed to “sleep…

Stroke What is stroke? Stroke is characterized by brain damage due to bleeding or a loss of blood supply to the brain. This often leads to long-term disability caused by symptoms such as paralysis, trouble swallowing and speaking, and loss of vision. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, people with stroke have a very high risk of developing a heart attack. Due to the importance of this condition, it is critical that patients understand its causes, symptoms,…

What is a stroke? By definition, a stroke is also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the “sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen”. In other words, a stroke is a form of brain attack. It is referred as a “brain attack” because it can occur or attack at any time and to anyone (for instances, kids, adults, and elders). This means that the brain is not getting enough oxygen. The reason for oxygen shortage could be because there is blockage of blood vessels that help transport…

Strokes occur when there is a sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain. Prior to the 1960s, stroke related deaths were 4 times higher than today’s rates (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2013). In the 1960s, stroke deaths began to decline as treatable risk factors, such as hypertension and cigarette smoking, were identified. During the 1970s, stroke deaths continued to decline due to continued risk factor management, increased aspirin usage, and advances in radiological studies such…