A Guide on Stroke Treatments

Posted by alvina on June 1st, 2021

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted.

It is a serious condition that requires urgent treatment in order to decrease the damage occurring in the brain.

In order to prevent a stroke, it is important to know the signs so you can call for an emergency service as soon as possible.

These signs include:

• Numbness in one part of the face
• Paralysis on one side
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble walking
• Difficulty seeing
• Lack of coordination

What causes a stroke?

Multiple factors can make you more susceptible to contract a stroke. These include:

• Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure
• Unhealthy diet, high in trans-fat and sugar
• Lack of exercise
• Heart disease
• Toxic compounds like alcohol and tobacco

What treatment for a stroke?

There are various types of strokes, involving different treatments:

• Ischemic stroke

This is the most common type of stroke. The arteries where the blood flow to the brain become blocked by what we call a blood clot. The blood clot rather forms in the artery (thrombotic strokes) or travels to the brain, cutting off the blood flow (embolic strokes).

To treat an ischemic stroke, the blood flow must be correctly restored to the brain. This is done by injecting a drug that breaks up and dissolves the blood clot.

Another procedure can be performed for larger blood clots, which involves removing the blood clot from the artery.

• Haemorrhagic stroke

This type of stroke occurs from the rupture of a weakened artery in the brain, or when the artery leaks open. This damages your brain cells and tissues as the brain gets swollen.

The treatment consists of thinning the blood with medication intake to reduce the bleeding and the pressure in the skull. Surgery can also be performed to remove the blood or repair blood vessels.

Objects such as surgical clipping and coiling can also be used to avoid bleeding occurring again.

• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Also known as “mini-stroke”, the blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted, generally from a few minutes to several hours. Blood-thinning medication can be offered to reduce the risk of another clot. Taking anti-platelet medication helps to decrease the formation of clumps, and therefore, allowing the blood to flow correctly.

More stroke treatments

Even though strokes are serious conditions that require urgent attention and care, stroke treatment is possible through adopting healthy choices.

For example, you can:

• Have a healthy diet
• Stay hydrated
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Quit alcohol and smoking

Implementing healthy habits greatly contributes to your overall well-being and affects your ability to recover from diseases and overcome them.

The treatment of strokes depends on which type of stroke is occurring.

Whether a stroke happens when the blood flow is disrupted or when something causes bleeding in the brain, knowing treatments for a stroke can help you prevent it from happening while treating the stroke effectively.