Brain Stroke Management

Stroke is a debilitating/life-threatening condition that is likely to affect 1 out of every 4 adults, above the age of 25. It refers to a condition marked by the sudden death of the brain cells due to a disrupted supply of oxygenated blood to it. At present, there are more than 110 million people across the globe, who have experienced a stroke. Over the past few decades, the risks of developing stroke have increased by 50 percent, which is quite alarming. Early medical intervention is the only key to saving the lives of such patients and it can take months, or even years to recover from it.

What are the different types of Stroke? 
Stroke is broadly classified into three different types. These are:

• Transient Ischemic attack - Commonly referred to as TIA, it is a type of stroke that only lasts for a couple of minutes, causing a brief disruption in the normal flow of blood to the brain. 
• Ischemic Stroke- These account for 87 percent of all the reported cases of stroke and are caused by the limited flow of blood to the brain. This happens due to a blockage in the blood vessels, which is caused by clot formation. Ischemic stroke is further classified into two types, i.e. thrombotic stroke and embolic stroke.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke - It is a type of stroke most commonly seen in people with unmanaged hypertension. In this case, there is a leakage of blood in the brain owing to the rupturing or tearing of a blood vessel. These can prove to be extremely dangerous and often result in coma or brain death.

What are the indications of Stroke? 
Stroke can damage any part of the brain, depending on which the patients experience varied symptoms. However, there are some classic symptoms that you need to watch out for. These are abbreviated as FAST, where
F Stands for facial drooping
S Stands for arm weakness
S Stands for slurred speech 
T Stands for timely medical intervention 

Other symptoms that suggest that a person is having a Stroke include:

• Paralysis, which may be partial or complete 
• Confusion and disorientation
• An abrupt change in behavior
• Inability to see or hear properly 
• Lack of balance
• Lightheadedness or Dizziness
• Severe Headache
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Seizures

When is the right time to see a doctor?
Patients having a stroke need immediate medical care and as such, it is important to see a doctor as soon as you start experiencing the symptoms. These do not necessarily mean that you are having a stroke and any conclusion can be reached only after thorough evaluation and assessment. 
Treatment for stroke 

The treatment usually depends on the type of Stroke

• Patients with Ischemic Stroke or transient Ischemic stroke are recommended to go for mechanical thrombectomy, in which doctors use a catheter to extract the clot that is responsible for the stroke. Stent placement may be done in case the arterial walls are weak. 
• Patients with Hemorrhagic stroke are recommended to go for coiling or clamping. The former involves the placement of a coil-like device in the affected part of the artery to reduce leakage. The latter involves the use of a clamp at the base of the affected artery.