Stroke, also referred to as CVA or cerebrovascular accident, is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen is either blocked by a clot, bursts, or ruptures (Dennis & Sen, 2015). When this happens, oxygenated blood fails to nourish tissues in the brain. Symptoms of a stroke vary and depend on the area of the brain affected. The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis of one side of the body with partial or complete loss of voluntary movement or sensation in a leg, arm or both (Dennis & Sen, 2015). There can also be speech problems, thought and/or coordination difficulty, and weak face muscles causing drooling, numbness, or tingling (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Symptoms that improve within 24 hours, or within minutes, with no evidence of a stroke are categorized as a mini stroke – or transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is caused by a temporary blood clot (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Those that have experienced a mini-stroke are at risk for a following stroke compared to those that …show more content…
Ischemic stroke occurs when there is something blocking the path of blood to the brain, while hemorrhagic stroke refers to a weakened blood vessel rupturing. Ischemic strokes are 87% more common and are like heart attacks because they are caused by oxygen being reduced or cut off completely from the heart (Dennis & Sen, 2015).
Per the American Stroke Association, 80% of strokes can be prevented (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Modifiable risk factors for stroke include: increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, not exercising, obesity, heart disease, and periodontal disease (Rudick, Wilson & Gurenlian, 2015). Race also plays a factor when it comes to an individual and their risk for stroke. African Americans are more likely to die from stroke due to their increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity (Rudick et al.
Cerebrovascular Accident a) Overview - definition and the effects of the stroke on the body A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Stroke/Pages/Introduction.aspx) This condition is a common cause of death and disability, especially in older people. Some predisposing factors include: • hypertension • atheroma • cigarette smoking • diabetes mellitus It occurs when blood flow to the brain suddenly interrupted, causing hypoxia. The effects include paralysis of a limb or one side of the body and disturbances of speech and vision.
A stroke can happen at any age but for patients who are 55 and older, their risk factor will increase due to age and physical activity. “While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes”(“About Stroke” page 1). Also at risk are African Americans because of other health issues that can trigger a stroke, for example: high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Caucasians and Hispanics are also at. Not only does Ethnicity and age play a factor, but so does other health conditions. Patients who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, alcohol and drug
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or condensed. Blood works to transport oxygen and other beneficial substances to the body’s cells and organs, as well as the brain. There are two main types of strokes that are known as Ischemic strokes and Hemorrhagic strokes. When the blood vessels that provides for the brain becomes congested, is it referred to as ischemic stroke, the most common stroke within adults. Blood clots, a cluster of blood that sticks together, are the cause of Ischemic strokes. Ischemic strokes also takes place when arteries become backed up with plague, leaving less blood to flow. Plague is cholesterol, calcium and fibrous and connective tissue that sticks to the walls of blood vessels. Ischemic strokes eternally damage the brain and cause a person's body to no longer function habitually.Some risk factors that may increase stroke are high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Some stroke factors are also due to old age or having a family that has a history of strokes. Men are more likely to have a stroke but the most st...
It goes without saying that everyone’s health is important and should be taken care carefully. Everyone has heard of strokes before but many people do not really know its meaning, types, and the number of individuals of that dies due to this issue. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), strokes kills an average of 130,000 people a year and it is one of the most common deaths that happen in the United States. An average of 800,000 of people die from cardiovascular disease and strokes and it is also a reason of long-term disability (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Strokes, which can also be called cerebrovascular accident or CVA happen when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or the blood vessel going towards the brain burst. Then part of the brain dies or become seriously injured because the brain cells do not receive oxygen and they eventually die. People’s lifestyle may also impact seriously on their health and increase the possibility of having a stroke. Some of the risk that can severely increase the cause of stroke would be high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking, as well as strokes that
Someone somewhere in the United States is having a stroke every 40 seconds and every 4 minutes someone dies of a stroke from not being treated fast enough. When having a stroke what are some signs? The most common signs of someone having a stroke are: face drooping, arm weakness or numbness, and strange or slurred speech. The faster you are treated for having a stroke the more likely you are to survive and not have permanent damage (disability). Stroke is the number one cause of having serious long term disability in the United States, every year about 795,000 people have strokes.
So, what is actually happening when a stroke occurs? A stroke occurs blood flow to the brain is either impeded or significantly reduced. When this happens, the brain cells are starved of the essential oxygen and nutrients they need and begin to die. There are three different kinds of strokes. They are ischemic, hemorrhagic,
insurance coverage is important and can be obtained through government sources, employer benefit programs, or private providers.)
... J. (2009). Heart disease and stroke statistics--2010 updated: a report from the American Heart Association. Journal of the American Heart Association. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192667
Several researchers have attempted to determine the general public's knowledge about stroke risk factors and warning signs. The most commonly cited risk factors were hypertension and stress; the most frequently identified warning signs were dizziness, severe headaches, and unspecified weakness. Knowledge about warning signs may prompt early recognition of strokes and, hence increase the speed and aggressiveness with which people seek medical attention. The five stroke warning signs identified by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and stroke include: (a) sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body; (b) sudden dimness or loss of vision particularly in one eye; (c) sudden difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech; (d)sudden severe headache with no known cause; and (e) unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls. These symptoms are seen especially in conjunction with other warning signs.
The World Health Organisation (2013) explains that an Ischaemic stroke occurs as a result of a blood vessel becoming blocked by a clot, reducing the supply of oxygen to the brain and, therefore, damaging tissue. The rationale for selecting Mary for this discussion is; the author wishes to expand her evidenced based knowledge of stroke since it is the principal cause of disability and the third leading cause of mortality within the Scottish population (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), 2008) and, therefore, a national priority. In response to this priority, the Scottish Government (2009) produced their ‘Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan’. Additionally, they have introduced a HEAT target to ensure 90% of stroke patients get transferred to a specialised stroke unit on the day of admission to hospital (Scottish Government, 2012).
Stroke is a serious medical condition that affects people of all ages specifically older adults. People suffer from a stroke when there is decreased blood flow to the brain. Blood supply decreases due to a blockage or a rupture of a blood vessel which then leads to brain tissues dying. The two types of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the artery that brings oxygenated blood to the brain. On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke is when an artery in the brain leaks or ruptures (“About Stroke,” 2013). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of adult disability” (“About Stroke,” 2013). Stroke causes a number of disabilities and also leads to decreased mobility in over half of the victims that are 65 and older. The CDC lists several risk factors of stroke such as heredity, age, gender and ethnicity as well as medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and excessive weight gain that in...
I realized it was a stroke,” –Fred, a stroke survivor. Some of the most common symptoms indicating that a stroke is occurring include sudden numbness or loss of movement in the limbs on one side of your body or face, sudden vision changes, sudden trouble speaking, sudden confusion, a very intense headache, or sudden balance issues. Stroke is simply acquired when the blood supply to the brain is suspended, but to get to the roots of what causes it, a stroke is triggered by the slowly forming plaque buildup over time. The plaque is made up of calcium, fat, cholesterol, cellular waste, and fibrin, a material involved in blood clotting. The plaque existing in an artery can grow big enough to block the supply of blood to the brain, resulting in a stroke. A stroke can also be caused by high blood pressure breaking a blood vessel in the brain causing internal bleeding. Although there is no cure, as damage the brain is usually irreversible if not cared for quickly; there are different treatments available for both types of stroke. For an ischemic stroke, a tissue called plasminogen activator can be injected into an artery to break up
A stroke is best described as a brain attack (association, 2014) (association, 2014). A stroke occurs when the vital blood and oxygen supply to the brain is cut off (association, 2014). This happens when a blood clot has travelled to an artery in the brain or a blood vessel in the brain bursts causing an interruption in the blood flow to parts of the brain (association, 2014).
O'Donnell, M., Xavier, D., Liu, L., Zhang, H., Chin, S., & Rao-Melacini, P. et al. (2010). Risk factors for ischaemic and intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke in 22 countries (the INTERSTROKE study): a case-control study. The Lancet, 376(9735), 112-123.
A cerebrovascular accident is known as a stroke. A Stroke is a major illness that affects many people within minutes. It happen when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This is an emergency that can’t wait too long to get treatment. The brain needs a consistent supply of blood, which carries the oxygen and nutrient it needs to function. Every artery in the brain works hard to supplies blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when one of these arteries are either blocked or burst. As a result, part of the brain does not get the blood it needs, so it starts to die. However, the more quickly you get treatment, the better the prognosis. At the point when a stroke goes untreated for a really long time, there can be permanent brain damage.