Your brain is an essential body part as it determines every aspect of human life, let it be emotions, movement, memory, thoughts or intelligence. The most amazing fact about your brain is that it keeps changing and updating throughout your life. Containing a network of cells and parts, a human brain weighs just 1.6 kg or 3 pounds. What if these brain cells start to die? What is stroke treatment? What will you ask your doctor? Will the condition lead to death?
A stroke occurs when one of the brain arteries (blood vessels transferring blood from the heart to the brain) is either blocked or damaged. Eventually, the brian cells start to die as the brain doesn’t get the required amount of blood that may result in disability and even death. According to a report published by the World Health organization, Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Therefore, a stroke requires immediate medical attention.
How a Stroke May Affect You
Your brian is divided into two hemispheres- left hemisphere (relates to scientific & reasoning) and right hemisphere (relates to creativity, art awareness, & spatial orientation). A person with a stroke on the left hemisphere of the brain tends to suffer from neurological issues like speech problems, incompetence in aptitude, and inability to analyse things. Whereas if the stroke is on the right hemisphere of the brain, the person may fail to recognise perceptions or directions, become incapable to be creative, lose insights. So, stroke treatment must begin as soon as one observes these symptoms.
Other common effects of stroke on your body may include the following:
- Less emotional control
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Lung complications leading to breathing problems
- Incontinence
- Nerve problems
- Muscle weakness or paralysis
- Loss of feeling or inability to move
- Fatigue
- Dysphagia
- Poor coordination
- Visual problems
- Sudden numbness
- Severe headache
FAST Warning Signs
Also, it must be noted that the warning signs of stroke are summarized within the acronym FAST, where-
- F stands for Face Dropping
- A stands for Arm Weakness
- S stands for Speech
- T stands for Time to call an medical emergency
It is strongly recommended that a person experiencing signs of a stroke must seek immediate medical care without wasting a second. The faster stroke treatment begins, the better symptoms are reduced.
Types of a Stroke
The stroke treatment depends upon the type of stroke and its particular symptoms and causes. Medical experts classify stroke into two types-
- Ischemic strokes
It is a common type of stroke that is estimated to make upyo 87% of the stroke cases worldwide. It is caused by the clot in the artery that supplies blood to the brain. It is further sub-classified into two types
- Thrombotic Stroke
Seen in people suffering from high cholesterol or diabetes
- Embolic Stroke-
Seen in people with heart ailments
- Hemorrhagic strokes-
It is a unique condition when the blood vessel ruptures or damages. The hemorrhagic strokes are rare but records states that it is responsible for 40% of deaths due to strokes. It is also sub-classified into two types
- Intracerebral
Caused by ruptured brain artery
- Subarachnoid
Caused by damage or leak that results in bleeding in the space covering the brain and the tissue
Now when you know causes and types of stroke, let’s discuss how it is treated.
Stroke Treatment
The best opportunity to treat a stroke is to get medical attention as fast as possible. Upon arrival at the hospital, stroke treatment begins after its type is diagnosed via CT scan or a series of X Rays. The doctor also identifies the type of the stroke by understanding the causes and confirming its symptoms. Then, the expert identifies the extent of the brain damage. After analysing the type, condition, and causes of the stroke, the doctor begins stroke treatment through-
Ischemic Stroke Treatment
- Antiplatelet and anticoagulants drugs
- Clot breaking drugs
- Mechanical Thrombectomy
- Stents
- Surgery
Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment
- Medications
- Coiling
- Clampting
- Surgery
Recovery from the Stroke
Stroke is an adverse medical condition that needs an immediate recovery treatment. If anyone you know is suffering from a stroke, here’s how therapies and rehabilitation helps a person to treat the symptoms and get back on the normal life track.
In point of fact, stroke recovery must be started in hospital as soon as the person suffering from the neurological problem arrives there. Here’s a list of recovery therapies your doctor may recommend:
- Speech Therapy
Relearn how to speak
- Cognitive Therapy
Regain thinking and reasoning skills as well as regain behavioural patterns
- Relearning Sensory Skills
Adjust to the lack of sensation
- Physical Therapy
Regain strength and balance
If you or anyone you know is experiencing the symptoms or signs that indicate that it may be a stroke, immediately seek for a medical emergency. Life is precious, therefore stay informed and ask your medical care doctor about the effective ways to minimize your risk for stroke that may lead to long-term health complications and disability.