Causes, Prevention and Treatment Process of Stroke

When the blood flow is cut or diminished, a stroke happens; this event prevents the brain tissue from taking oxygen and nutrition. This may occur due to the blockage in brain vessels or brain haemorrhage.

This situation causes the rapid death of brain cells within minutes. If this situation, which threatens life and causes losses in daily activities, is cured rapidly, some various body function losses caused by brain damage and paralysis can be prevented. Memorial Şişli Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department Chair Prof. Dr. Engin Çakar made significant suggestions for patients with stroke paralysis.

Symptoms of stroke (paralysis)

A stroke (paralysis) is known as a life-threatening situation which occurs when the blood flow is cut. The symptoms of paralysis brain can be classified as:

• Weakness in face muscles, asymmetrical smile, looseness on the margin of eye and mouth
• Weakness or numbness in arm and leg,
• Speech disturbance,
• Difficulty in understanding the sayings,
• Loss of consciousness

Causes of stroke (paralysis)

Like all organs, the brain also needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by blood to operate properly. If the blood flow is restricted or ceased, the brain cells die. This may cause brain damage, disability and probably, death.

There are two main reasons for stroke:

Ischemic stroke: This is the vessel blockage that nurtures the brain because of vessel stiffness or blood clots and a cease of the blood flow. 85% of all stroke cases are ischemic.

Hemorrhagic stroke: Named as brain haemorrhage, this situation occurs as a result of a rupture and bleeding of a weak vessel which nurtures the brain.

How to reduce the risk of stroke?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeat, diabetes and unhealthy nutrition habits are among the factors which increase the risk of stroke. These factors can encourage inflammation in the body, especially in arteria. In order to reduce the risk of inflammation and stroke, the following steps should be helpful:

Reduce stress: Chronic stress increases the inflammation in the body and can make any case which causes stroke serious. So, stress and stroke have a connection. Reducing stress also helps to reduce the unhealthy inflammation in the body. Psychotherapy and meditation can be helpful in reducing stress.

Manage bad cholesterol with diet: High cholesterol is among the main reasons of stroke. Although we should have some cholesterol to be healthy, so much LDL (bad cholesterol) may cause inflammation in arteries. It is possible to prevent this situation by controlling the cholesterol level and reducing the amount of saturated fats if your bad cholesterol is high.

Consume plant-based foods: The importance of a plant-based diet is being recognized more day by day. It is important to consume nutrients like tomatoes, olive oil, leaf vegetables, almonds, walnuts, strawberries, huckleberries and oranges.

Have good sleep: Lastly, having 7-9 hours of sleep daily to reduce the risk of inflammation and stroke is important. Too much or too little sleep may cause inflammation in body.

Quit smoking!

Exercise regularly!

Following these steps may help to prevent many chronic diseases, including stroke.

Treatment of Stroke

At the moment when the symptoms of stroke appear, the nearest comprehensive health institution should be consulted. A specialist doctor may recommend a rapid tomography or diffusion-weighted MR (MRI) to be taken after the examination. When the diagnosis of stroke is made, the treatment process begins.

The patients may be hospitalized at the intensive care, neurology or brain surgery departments according to the cause and severity of the stroke. In this process, medical or interventional treatments are applied. The cause of the stroke is accurately detected and the needed drug therapies are started to prevent the repetition.

After this process, the physical therapy and rehabilitation process is started as inpatient or ambulatory. The physical therapy and rehabilitation applications in stroke treatment may be defined as neuro-rehabilitation applications.

Neuro-Rehabilitation in Stroke Treatment

Comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation applications can be ensured with the combination of many elements like physiotherapy, Ergotherapy, robotic rehabilitation, speech and swallowing therapy and psychosocial support. Following the first days of the stroke, the patient should be taken a comprehensive physical therapy program after the life-threatening danger has been averted. The examination and a treatment program according to the needs of the patient are initiated by a Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation specialist.

REFERENCES:

https://istanbulrehab.com/tedaviler/inme-felc-tedavisi/

https://www.doktorfizik.com/agri/inflamasyon-iltihap-nedir/

https://www.engincakar.com/inme-felc/inme-felc-tedavisi/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Inflammation-and-Stroke.aspx

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21660-inflammation

https://www.flintrehab.com/inflammation-and-stroke/