Ischemic Stroke Nursing

A stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, “A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack (pg. 4).” A stroke occurs when the brain isn’t receiving enough oxygen or a lack of blood supply. According to the American Heart Association, about 795,000 people have a stroke every year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of adult disability.

Marsha is a single mother of three, the youngest being in high school. She works as a sales associate in the women’s fashion section of a larger department store. Last year, Marsha experienced a cerebral vascular accident, or stroke, while on her way to work and was brought in to the hospital. Strokes occur when the blood supply of the brain is disrupted, such as an ischemic attack, thrombosis, or a ruptured blood vessel. When the patient awoke in the hospital, she was unable to understand the staff or her family and expressed difficulty in forming replies. This suggests that the CVA may have occurred in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in the Broca and Wernicke’s areas. The medical team suggested that Marsha be released from

Heart diseases from maternal side; lung diseases from paternal side. No previous stroke, cancer or diabetes.

Strokes claim a victim every forty seconds in the world (Mcintosh 1). Strokes happen when the brain is deprived of blood, leading to rapid brain cells start dying rapidly, which causes muscle weakness on one side of the body, speech difficulties, and the drooping of the side of one’s face. Oftentimes, strokes are believed to be unpredictable and unmanageable, however understanding the biology and causes behind them can allow for many prevented and effectively managed strokes (Mcintosh 2).

First I feel that, it is important to understand the clinical manifestation of the different strokes. The Ischemic stroke can cause a wide range of neurologic symptoms depending on the location and the size of the effective area. Patients may present with symptoms, such as, numbness or weakness of the face, arms, legs, more so, one side of the body, changes in moody or behavior, trouble with speaking or understanding speech, visual disturbances, having difficulty in walking, dizziness or loss of balance and sudden server headaches. Hemorrhagic stroke has, also, presents with the same clinical manifestation as a Ischemic stroke, however, most patients complain of server headache.

Recently, there has been a surge in reports of TIAs in rare instances such as healthy, young women. With lack of full understanding as to the reasoning behind this, research found that strokes are not a geriatric disease as once believed (stroke association.org). Accordingly, Steven J. Kittner, M.D., director of the Maryland Stroke Center at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine in Baltimore declares that strokes can affect anyone at any age (2004). Furthermore, he states that although there are common risk factors, some of the more hidden ones are the most dangerous, especially for women under 55 (Kittner, 2004). He claims, matching other reports that these hidden risk factors leading to increased strokes include: migraines, oral contraceptives,

Stroke occurs when there is ischemia to a part of the brain that results in brain cell death. Movement, sensations and emotions that were controlled by the affected area of the brain where the stroke occurred are impaired or permanently lost. The severity of the loss of functions varies to the extent and specific location of the damage done to the brain (Flemming, K.D., 2013). Stroke is the fourth most common cause of death with over 800,000 people annually is affected in the US. Of the individuals who have survived a stroke, 15-30% will live with permanent disabilities.

Stroke is a major public health concern occurring on average once every 40 seconds in the United States.(AHA) Although stroke patients benefit from time-critical therapy such as tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), providing interventions to patients within the therapeutic time frame is a challenge to small rural hospitals.1 Consequently, patients presenting to rural facilities have been found to be approximately ten times less likely to receive the therapeutic benefits of tPA than patients being treated at primary stroke centers where traditionally specialty care has only been available.2,3

Mrs Alice Palmer is 54 years old, female and has had hypertension for years but does not take medication for it. Ischaemic strokes are usually caused by blood clots that form and block vessels to the bloodstream resulting in tissue in the brain dying. (Stroke Foundation - Australia, 2016). Compared to another 54 year old woman who doesn’t have hypertension, Mrs Palmer’s risk of a stroke is higher due to the hypertension. Age is another factor that contributes to the risk of having a stroke especially an ischaemic stroke, as the older you get the more chance of having a stroke increases (Stroke Foundation - Australia, 2016). Gender is said to be a risk factor as well, men have a more increased chance of having a stroke. Another factor to be

Patients who suffer a right-hemispheric stroke occur deficits related to vision loss, lack of awareness of the positions of their bodies, and spatial awareness. The nurse would expect the patient to have left-sided weakness and/or paralysis. The nurse must make sure that the patient’s left side is still taken care of (limb is repositioned/properly cleaned) in the case that the patient has unilateral neglect syndrome (patient fails to recognize the affected part of their body). The patient may also experience poor impulse control as well as impaired judgement. The patient may also have visual changes and impaired depth perception. Time and perception of one’s abilities will also be detected. Safety interventions must be put in place by the nurse

stroke results when arteries carrying blood to the brain may become blocked by a blood clot or plaque or they may rupture.

The diagnosis is a cerebrovascular accident, also known as a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to cerebral vessels become disrupted from clotting or a rupture. The two types of CVA are ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is the most common type. It results from a thrombosis1 or emboli2. A hemorrhagic stroke is the most fatal type of stroke. It occurs when there is bleeding into brain tissue from hypertension, aneurysms, or head injuries. Structures that are involved in a stroke would include brain tissue and cerebral vessels. A right sided stroke will result in left side paralysis, vision problems, inquisitive behavioral style, and memory loss. The right side of the brain is responsible for attention, creative, imaginative,

Aside from interventions, there are mediciation to help treat stroke. For ischemic stroke, it is important to restore blood flow to the brain. Aspirin or antihypertension will

This patient was admitted to the hospital exhibiting symptoms such as the inability to speak, muscle weakness and facial numbness. From the noncontrast CT scan, the doctors concluded that she has suffered from a lacunar ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain.1 Lacunar refers to the small lacunes, or softening, found in the brain. Lacunes are most often caused by hypertensive small artery disease which can be triggered by hypertension.2 In the United States alone; stroke affects approximately 795,000 people and holds the title of the fourth leading cause of death. Typically, African Americans are more susceptible to suffering from a stroke as well as the

Stroke can be a devastating medical condition of the brain and body. This common form of cerebrovascular disease can manifest in different ways, and can cause quite a few adverse side effects. The onset of a stroke can take years to develop or can come on very quickly without warning.