Cerebral Vascular Accident

     If doctors agree that a stroke has taken place, they may do other tests to determine where the stroke occurred, how large of an area is damaged, and how the blood flow with in the brain has been effected; they do this by taking a CAT scan. They may also take an ECG to determine if there is any heart disease that may have caused the stroke. In addition, they take tests to see if the patient has high blood pressure or they may test the arteries themselves because this is a major cause of stroke in most people. Catheterization, injecting dye into the arteries, and blood tests are the most common tests done. A high glucose level in the blood may reveal diabetes and high blood fats indicate thickened red blood and arteriosclerosis. There may also be a high level of red blood cells, changing the consistency of the blood. These conditions must be treated to prevent further strokes.

Strokes are caused by a block in the blood supply to the brain which causes a decrease in oxygen and delivery of other important supplies which facilitate proper functioning. Fifteen million cases are reported worldwide annually, although not all of these cases are mortalities, the large prevalence of strokes ranks it as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (Figueroa) Because of the time sensitivity associated with the lack of resources to the brain, strokes are considered a medical emergency and early recognition of symptoms can help decrease the amount of damage caused . Although strokes do not always cause death, strokes most often leave the individual with some physical and cognitive impairment.

. Define the term collateral blood flow, and describe how this and other factors affect the development of stroke.

Ischaemic stroke is a serious neurological condition in which a blood clot stops blood flow to the brain and for which immediate action is required. It is the fourth cause of death in Western society, causing 87% of all strokes, and also results in long-term disability among survivors (Bunevicius et al., 2013). In the United States, about 800,000 strokes occur each year, and approximately six million Americans are living with neurological deficits caused by ischaemic strokes (Duong, 2012). Therefore, neuroradiological imaging has become a major section in radiology departments.

Cerebral vascular accidents are also known as strokes. Strokes can cause minimal to severe brain damage which can affect a person’s quality of life. This paper covers the definition, signs and symptoms, treatments, causes, prevention and what a nursing assistant can do to help someone recovering from a stroke.

Cerebrovascular Accident- condition in which brain tissue is deprived of blood supply.  The most common stroke symptoms are:

Stroke also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA), cerebrovascular insult (CVI), or a brain attack. A brain attack is the loss of brain function by the cause of disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This disturbance occurs due to either one of two causes which are ischemia (lack of blood flow) or a hemorrhage (high increase of blood flow directly into brain; parenchyma or into the subarachnoid space which surrounds the brain with tissue). Ischemia is a formation by a blood clot that is inside of a blood vessel located in the circulatory system called thrombosis or arterial embolism; which is a rapid interruption in the supply of blood flow to an organ or body part due to a clogged artery blocking the blood flow. Thrombosis is a

Given the absence of a clinical test to accurately distinguish between haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes, imaging at this early stage is vital. A non-contrast CT brain is often performed at this point although when unavailable, MRI is usually more sensitive and specific in identifying stroke lesions at the cost of longer examination times (Vymazal, Rulseh, Keller & Janouskova, 2012).

When trying to detect the onset of a stroke, remembering the acronym F.A.S.T. is important (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911). If stroke symptoms are detected within an individual, they have just a couple hours before it is too late for any preventative treatment options. Unfortunately, the type of stroke cannot be identified except through several tests (physical test, blood test, CT, MRI), which are important because treatments are different for the different types of strokes. It would be hazardous to administer the wrong stroke treatment to an individual having a different kind of stroke. (McIntosh) Seeing the precursors to a stroke and preventing it is not always possible; therefore, the stroke victim may have some damaging effects on their body. Strokes can affect a body in different ways depending on which side the blood clot occurs. If the blood clot occurs in the right side of the brain, the left side of the body and the face will be affected. In addition to paralysis of the body and face, vision problems, memory loss, and quick, inquisitive behavior could result from a blood clot on the right half of the brain. If the clot were to occur in the left side, the right side of the body would suffer speech and language problems, slow behavior, or memory loss. (About Stroke.) Aside from the physical effects of a stroke, a victim might also be affected emotionally undergoing depression, or being unable to control their feelings. (McIntosh) Oftentimes, the outcome of a stroke is irreversible and saddening for everyone

Stroke previously known as Cerebrovascular accident is well-defined as ‘an abrupt cessation of cerebral circulation in one or more of the blood vessels distributing the brain. Due to the interruption or diminish of oxygen supply causes serious damage or necrosis in the brain tissues (Jauch, Kissella & Stettler, 2005). There is a presence of one or more symptoms such as weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, difficulty speaking or swallowing, dizziness, loss of balance, loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes and headache. Stoke is categorised into two types, Ischaemic and haemorrhagic

Brains are very important as you may know, that is why I will be giving you an insight on how to protect your brain and get information on how to know if you or a loved one could be having a brain hemorrhage. Imaging of the brain has become very significant to finding pathologies and catching life threatening brain hemorrhages. There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes and they are subarachnoid or intracerebral which means ‘within the brain’. These strokes can occur when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. Any one of these vessels can rupture which would cause bleeding into the brain, this is the effect of severe pressure and will lead to serious outcomes. This is why imaging of the brain is very important if you or a loved one is having symptoms of a brain hemorrhage. This could essentially cause injuries to the brain and could lead to symptoms of a stroke. Imaging is crucial to hemorrhages because how else would you be able to see what is going on in there! Computed tomography is the first step in the process of detecting a brain hemorrhage. There are other imaging modalities that can further see what is going on and are more detailed, they are just a little bit more invasive than the CT which is done at first. It is very important to catch the hemorrhage early because it could potentially cause permanent brain damage or death. According to the article “Guidelines for the Management of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage”, written by Joseph P. Broderick along with other

When I was in 8th grade, my aunt had a stroke and she is still suffering from the post-stroke side effects. I choose this article because I wanted to learn more about the treatments of stroke, especially how to deter its effects on the body. I believe that stroke strongly affects a person’s daily life. One day someone can be biking and then the next day that same person can be facing paralysis on one side of the body, disabling them. My family does have a history of stroke, so I want to be able to identify symptoms of stroke, if I ever display them and be able to know which treatments can possibly save my life. I also want to be able to know that my life won’t be too badly affected if I do end up getting stroke.

Ischemic stroke is also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or “brain attack” is a sudden loss of function resulting from disruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain. Ischemic stroke is caused by an emboluslodged in the small vessels of the brain, causing the oxygen and glucose deprivation to the brain. For Mrs. William case, she is diagnosed with ischemic stroke that is affecting her left side hemisphere of the brain, which is causing her to experience right side symptoms (right-side paralysis, right field homonymous hemianopisa, and global aphasia) (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014). The nursing interventions that the patient is exhibiting the clinical manifestations are:

Strokes can be diagnosed by using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). MRI detects brain tissue damage, caused by a stroke. Another way is by injecting a dye into a blood vessel. Doctors would do this to see inside of arteries, veins, and the blood flow inside the head. Lastly doctors could see the symptoms the patient has. Symptoms of a stroke could be

Strokes are primarily classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are the most common (% of all strokes) and occur due to obstruction of a blood vessel supplying the brain; they can be further sub-classified as thrombotic or embolic, depending on the site of occlusion. Physiologically, ischemic stroke occurs is preceded by endothelial damage in cerebral blood vessels that causes inflammation and fatty deposit accumulation in arterial walls. Subsequently, this leads to a decrease in blood vessel diameter and vascular flow. In turn, reduced oxygen and glucose supply to brain tissue creates an ischemic core (where blood flow