CEREBROVASCULAR
ACCIDENT
What is cerebrovascular accident ?
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply
to any part of the brain resulting in a sudden loss of brain function . a
stroke is sometime called a “brain attack”. It occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is
suddenly stopped and oxygen cannot get to that part. This lack of oxygen may damage or kill the brain
cells. Death of part of the brain may lead to loss of certain body function
controlled by that affected part . blood flow can be compromised by a variety
of mechanisms.
CAUSES OF CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT
Stoke may result from either interrupted
delivery of blood and oxygen to the brain is
chemic stroke) or abnormal bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic
stroke).
1.
1.
Transient Ischemic Attack: TIA or 'mini-stroke' is a short-term stroke
that lasts for less than 24 hours. The
oxygen supply to the brain is quickly restored and symptoms disappear. A
transient stroke needs prompt medical attention because it indicates a serious
risk of a major stroke. TIAs occur before almost 30% of ischemic strokes.
2.
Cerebral
Thrombosis: Cerebral thrombosis is when a blood clot
(thrombus) forms in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Blood vessels
that are furred up with fatty deposits (atheroma) make a blockage more likely.
The clot prevents blood flowing to the brain and cells are starved of oxygen.
Certain medical conditions can also cause platelets or red blood cells to
become stickier or cause increased blood viscosity, leading to formation of a
thrombus. These conditions include polycythemia, multiple myeloma, sickle cell
anemia, protein C deficiency, and protein S deficiency.
3.
Cerebral
Embolism: Cerebral embolism is a blood clot that forms
elsewhere in the body before traveling through the blood vessels and lodging in
the brain In the brain, it starves cells of oxygen. An irregular heartbeat or
recent heart attack may make prone to forming blood clots Examples of an
embolus include a thrombus that has broken away from the wall of the blood
vessel, heart, or valve; a piece of plaque, or a clump of bacteria.
4.
Cerebral
Hemorrhage: Cerebral hemorrhage is
when a blood vessel bursts inside the brain and bleeds (hemorrhages). With a
hemorrhage, blood seeps into the brain tissue and causes extra damage. The
blood vessel may rupture because of high blood pressure (hyperten sion),
increased tendency toward bleeding, an abnormal weakness in the wall of a blood
vessel (aneurysm), or abnormal communication between arteries and veins
(arteriovenous malformation).
RISK FACTORS
·
The
following factors may put you at a higher risk of having a CVA:
·
Hypertension
·
Diabetes
mellitus
·
Heart
disease, such as coronary artery disease
·
Congestive
heart failure
·
Atrial
fibrillation
·
History
of transient ischemic attacks and cerebrovascular disease
·
A
family history of stroke
·
Cigarette
smoking , cocaine use, or drinking too much alcohol
·
Diabetes
(high blood sugar)
·
Atherosclerosis
or fatty cholesterol deposits on artery walls
·
High
blood cholesterol (fat)
·
Kidney
disease, especially when dialysis is needed
·
Blood
clotting disorders
·
Rheumatoid
arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis , and ulcerative colitis.
CLINICAL
MANIFESTATIONS
The
symptoms of stroke depend on what part of the brain is damaged. In same cases ,
a person may
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