CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT/STROKE.

 

 

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