Strokes
- Created by: georgiasadler
- Created on: 02-04-14 19:14
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- STROKE
- WHAT IS IT?
- Cerebrovascular accident
- Blood supply has been cut off to a area of the brain
- Causes cell damage or death
- Severity depends on location of attack and speed of medical attention
- ISCHAEMIC
- Blockage in an artery preventing blood reaching a specific area of the brain
- Blockage is usually a fatty deposit called a plaque - atherosclerosis
- Can be an effect of smoking, high BP, obesity, cholesterol, high alcohol consumption or diabetes
- Atrial fibrillation - can cause blood clots to lodge in the brain
- Can be caused by heart disease e.g. cardiomyopathy & pericarditis - caffeine, hyperthyroidism, alcohol
- HAEMORRHAGIC
- Blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into brain
- Main case is high blood pressure
- Overweight, excessive alcohol, smoking, stress, lack of exercise
- SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
- Same for both types
- Signs differ due to affected part of brain
- Face may have dropped on one side
- Drooping of the eyes or mouth
- Weak/numb on one side of body
- May not be able to lift one arm or both
- Speech may be slurred or garbled
- Sudden loss of vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sudden and severe headache
- Problems with balance
- RISK FACTORS
- Being over 65
- Family history
- South Asian, African and Caribbean
- If you have had a TIA or a heart attack
- Trans ischaemic attack - mini stroke - warning
- DIAGNOSIS
- Brain scans - CT or MRI
- Physical tests
- Swallow test
- If signs are obvious, scans are still needed to find out type of stroke and where it's hit
- CARE PATHWAY
- Rapid response to 999
- Prompt transfer to hospital
- Urgent brain scan
- Access to a stroke unit
- Early assessment by multidisciplinary team
- Specialist rehabilitation
- Planned transfer from hospital
- ICHAEMIC TREATMENT
- Clot busting medication to dissolve blood clot
- Needs to be started within 4 hours of having stroke to work
- Aspirin - reduce stickiness if platelets reducing changes of more clots
- Anti-coagulants to prevent blood clots forming
- Blood pressure medication
- Stains to reduce cholesterol
- HAEMORRHAGIC TREATMENT
- Emergency surgery to remove blood from pain and repair damaged blood vessels
- Induced coma to control swelling in brain
- Medication to lower blood pressure
- WHAT IS IT?
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