What Is Ischemic Stroke?
Ischemic stroke is a type of brain stroke. This brain stroke is commonly known as CVA or cerebrovascular accident. Along with the other type of stroke, ischemic stroke is also considered fatal. The mere fact that it involves the brain makes the condition detrimental without even going into the details of the disease. The brain is a vital organ which controls all other parts of the body. Any disruptions to its function will greatly affect the capabilities of a person. Even when someone is sleeping, the brain is one of the few organs in our body that is still functioning.
Ischemic stroke is always preceded by a TIA stroke or transient ischemic attack. It can be considered as a warning sign of a stroke. This can be possible if there is a short cessation in blood and oxygen supply of the brain. When the nuisance in the system is not recognized earlier and prompt treatment is not performed, it may cause ischemic stroke to occur in that person. In this condition, the supply of oxygen through blood is occluded by a thrombus or an embolus. Thrombus is the formation of blood clots in the blood vessel that can eventually occlude it. Thus, as soon as this thrombus is detached from its original location, it travels into the bloodstream. In this situation, the thrombus is now termed as an embolus.
It is considered as an emergency situation for the medical team because there is an ischemia in the selected brain tissues or a deprivation of oxygen supply to the brain. After six minutes of ischemia, the patient might have permanent damage in the brain. Subsequent to ten minutes of oxygen deprivation, the patient may have dead brain tissues. The death of the patient may be imminent with this condition.
The symptoms of stroke may vary from each other. This is due to the damage that the condition has resulted in. The damage in the brain of a patient is parallel to the symptoms that he/she will manifest. Patients with this condition may have motor deficits, visual disruptions, sensory dysfunctions, cognitive deficiencies, verbal deficits, and emotional problems. Since the patient has a vast number of manifestations, caring for this type of patient will entail a multifaceted approach to address each disability that the patient may possess.
Diagnostic exams are prerequisite in the provision of treatments. First of all, it is necessary to rule out other conditions. The diagnostic tests that are involved in ischemic stroke are mostly focused on getting images of the brain and other structures, such as blood vessels, that can contribute to the occurrence of the stroke. Lifestyle changes may be necessary especially for persons who have a higher risk of getting the disease. There are some populations that have a higher risk than others. These people include obese people, persons with hypertension, and patients with hyperlipidemia.
The prevention of ischemic stroke consists of pharmacologic interventions, lifestyle changes, and surgical procedures. These mentioned procedures are also applicable in the treatment of this condition. It also includes therapies which can improve the situation of the patient such as physical therapy, speech lessons, emotional support, and cognitive therapy. Interventions should be performed as soon as possible to prevent greater damage to the patient.