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Archive for the ‘Stroke & Neurological Conditions’ Category

A cerebellum stroke can occur when there has been a disruption of blood flow and nutrients to the brain. This can lead to significant damage to brain function or can even cause death in some cases. Brain cells cannot survive if blood vessels stop bringing them the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. Recovery from a stroke varies from person to person.

One type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when blood vessels hemorrhage and bleed. Some common causes of this type of stroke are a brain injury or an aneurysm. Hemorrhagic strokes account for approximately 20% of all strokes. When bleeding occurs in the brain, damage can happen quickly. Swelling occurs because brain tissue is irritated by blood. Most often, hemorrhagic strokes are associated with high blood pressure.

The type of stroke that occurs most often (approximately 80%) is an ischemic stroke. This occurs when a small blood clot gets lodged in a blood vessel causing a blockage. This cuts off the supply of nutrients to the brain cells past that blockage. If not treated quickly, many brain studies have shown that the cells begin to starve and die, leading to reduced brain function. New treatments have been developed to treat strokes, but it must be caught early. Maintaining a healthy diet low in saturated fats and not smoking can decrease your risk of this type of stroke.

Another type of cerebellum stroke is known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This is also known as a “mini stroke.” This is diagnosed when there is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, but it resolves within 24 hours. Symptoms are similar to a stroke. There can be numbness, problems swallowing or speaking, balance problems or light headaches.

Any type of blood loss to the brain will cause a disruption to brain function. Memory loss and memory recall problems become realities for a person experiencing the effects of a stroke. Early treatment is important for minimizing damage to the brain.

Incidence of Cerebral Stroke:

Every year around 1 % of people within the age group of 60 years to 65 years suffer from Paralysis because of Cerebral stroke. Below the age of 40 years occurrence of Cerebral stroke is negligible.

Causes of Cerebral Stroke:

Cerebral Stroke is caused by break down of blood supply to a part of brain. If for a small moment supply of blood to a part of brain gets stopped, that part of brain stops to function, which may result into speech disorder, a state of unconsciousness, or a serious problem of Paralysis or Coma in the affected person.

The break down of blood supply can be because of:

1. Brain hemorrhage: By sudden rupture of a blood vessel in the Brain causing severe blood loss and damage to the affected region of the Brain resulting into non functioning of the organ controlled by the affected region of brain. the brain.
2. Thrombosis: Thrombosis is coagulation of blood in a blood vessel. Since the blood is in liquid state circulating in the blood vessels net work in the whole body. The coagulated mass of blood causes Clogging of very small diameter blood vessel of the brain by a clot formation. The affected part of the brain does not get the blood supply resulting into regional damage of the brain also impairing the functions of the organ controlled by the affected region of the brain.

a) brain hemorrhage:

10 % to 15 % of the Stroke Patients suffer from hemorrhage. It is a very serious condition and fatal in 25 to 50 %. This requires immediate consultation from a Specialized Neuro Physician. High Blood pressure is the main cause of hemorrhage in 75 % of the patients besides this malformation of the blood vessel, local inflammation of the blood vessel, conditions like hemophilia or Brain Injury.
b) Thrombosis:

80 % of the stroke patients suffer from thrombosis. It can be because of Diabetes, hypertension, High cholesterol in blood, Heavy smoking, sedentary habits. Because of this the vessels get constricted and deposit of thrombus causes blockage. Rheumatic heart disease patients are also prone to suffer.

Symptoms:

Prior to the attack following symptoms are encountered like loss of vision, weakness of limbs and unconsciousness. As suddenly these symptoms are noticed they disappear also within few minutes or an hour the patient becomes alright, but these initial symptoms should not be overlooked. If treated in time Cerebral Stroke can be prevented.

Prior to blockage of blood vessels patient experiences headache for some time and thereafter Cerebral Stroke occurs. during sleep and patient finds some part of the body is paralyzed and unconsciousness prevails. In some cases speech is lost. 10 % patients have different symptoms like severe Headache, Vertigo, Vomiting and also may see Two objects instead of one.

In contrast on the other hand in the case of Cerebral Stroke on account of hemorrhage is sudden, when the patient is fully conscious and doing some work. The patient instantaneously goes into coma.

Investigations:

The patient should be immediately admitted in a hospital and put under the supervision of a Neuro Physician. Patients laboratory investigations like Blood Sugar, Urea, Electrolytes, ECG and CT Scan should be carried out to find the cause of Cerebral Stroke.

Treatment:

First 48 to 72 hours are very critical. Neurological advice should be taken based on the investigation findings and treatment started. Blood Pressure should be controlled and medication given for resolution of the thrombus from the blood vessel. Patient should be put on exercises in consultation with the Physiotherapist so that the affected part is rejuvenated.

Precautions:

It is necessary that Hypertension, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol is kept under control. Regular treatment should be carried out if the patient is suffering from Hypertension or having Cardiac involvement also.

Summary:

1. Cerebral Stroke patient has to take the medicines through out life so that there is o No relapse.
2. It can take months or years for complete recovery, which is a slow process.
3. Patient should be advised to do normal work.
4. Long Period of disease may leave some residual defects, which can be reduced by regular exercise.

According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. They also go on to say recovering from a stroke can be a lifelong process. Stroke recovery is the process of relearning physically and mentally what you knew before the stroke damaged your body. There is a lot of work, energy and rehabilitation when recovering from a stroke.

The National Stroke Association also says a stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks and causes an interruption of blood flow to the brain. When this happens, brain cells are damaged and begin to die. Stroke recovery needs to start as soon as possible to be successful.

A stroke can permanently damage brain cells, or can temporarily damage them. About ten percent of stroke victims recover fully from strokes. Twenty five percent recover with little impairments, forty percent experience moderate to severe damage. The National Stroke Association also states that ten percent require nursing home care and fifteen percent die. Stroke recovery is geared towards the forty percent with moderate to severe damage, but is also used with all stroke victims.

Rehabilitation takes a team of experts who can work together to help the stroke victim. Stroke recovery can begin as soon as the patient is stable, some days as soon as two days after the initial stroke. The sooner the rehabilitation can start the better results you will usually get.

The first expert on the team is usually the nurse. Along with a nurse, there is usually an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, some therapeutic recreation, a speech therapist and some vocational rehabilitation. Stroke recovery focuses on daily living activities such as eating, drinking, toileting, dressing, bathing, reading and writing.

Where does the actual rehabilitation take place? Generally stroke recovery treatment starts in the hospital as soon as the patient is stable. Once the patient is able, they could be transferred to a rehabilitation unit in the hospital, treatment could be done at home, or they could be transferred to a long term care facility that provides skilled nursing.

Most of the time a stroke can be prevented with a healthy life style. When there is a stroke, stroke recovery as soon as possible is the key to rehabilitation. Yet, rehabilitation depends on the ability of each patient and full recoveries are very rare

New ways to treat post-stroke spasticity are giving stroke patients, even those in vegetable state, new hope for recovery. The National Stroke Association (NSA) Website has already added Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) Therapy and Botulinum toxin A (Botox) as part of its list on how to treat stroke patients with spasticity.

Spasticity is a resistance in the muscles to stretch after an injury to the central nervous system like stroke, which makes it difficult for patients to clench their hand, flex their fist, move their arm away from their body, or walk properly. Spasticity is often an underestimated effect of stroke which leads to grave pain for the patient if left untreated.

In the past, stroke patients who suffer spasticity are limited to oral medications that leave them sedated and with slow, limited developments despite physical therapy. Through ITB and Botox, post-stroke patients with spasticity can gain better recovery with no lethargy as medication is targeted to the specific area of the body needing therapy.

Relevant data reveal that patients with severe spasticity have shown an 89% reduction of spasticity-related pain on top of improving mobility, daily functioning and quality of life. Thus, ITB’s dramatic effects to stroke patients has now pushed for a deeper investigation on its benefits through the Spasticity In STrokE Randomized Study (SISTERS), an international trial conducted in 20 European and US sites.

SISTERS aim to reduce spasticity after 6 months of treatment that is partnered with physical therapy (PT). Recently, European company Medtronic announced its enrollment of European patients into the study.

Any stroke patient with spasticity is candidate to ITB–from those who can walk and just want to walk better to those who are already in a vegetative state. What actually happens during therapy is that, a catheter is tunneled under the skin of the stroke patient where spasticity is experienced. This then is pushed up until it reaches the spine. Once there, a minimal amount of medication is pumped.

On the other hand, botox, such as the brand Dysport, has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat focal spasticity for stroke patients but intensive care is necessary in its application as it comes from the same bacterium that causes botulism. Botox aids recovery from spasticity because it blocks the the release of chemical messages that cause the muscles to contract, thereby ending spasms in the affected muscles. However, Botox therapy is repeated every three months which increases the price of stroke therapy.

These two new ways of treating spasticity are great breakthroughs especially since stroke patients with severe spasticity normally do not respond sufficiently to oral medication and physical therapy. Patients, on the other hand, can choose these treatments on top of medications they use together with it, like NeuroAid which is a price competitive alternative that helps shorten stroke rehabilitation on a longer term. Other ways to treat spasticity, according to NSA, are stretching, injections, and surgery.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer, and the number one cause of adult disability. Stroke is a disease that affects the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. It has been estimate that there are up to 500,000 mild strokes annually in the nation. That compares to 700,000 full-blown strokes a year, according to the American Stroke Association.

A common disability that results from stroke is complete paralysis on one side of the body, called hemiplegia.

Commonly, a hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a ruptured blood vessel (aneurysm) or a leaky arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

A mild stroke or Ischemic stroke is caused by blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, resulting in a deficiency in blood flow (ischemia). Mild strokes occur more frequently in people over age 65 and hemorrhagic stroke is more common in younger people.

Symptoms of mild stroke typically last only a short time (less than an hour). A mild stroke is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage.

Here is a list of the most common symptoms of mild stroke:

- Weakness of the face, and/or arm, and/or leg muscles on one side of body

- Numbness of face and/or arm and/or leg one side of the body

- Inability to understand spoken language and/or Inability to speak

- Unexplained dizziness or vertigo, loss of vision through one eye and double vision or blurry vision are additional potential symptoms.

Mild strokes account for 80 percent of all such “brain attacks.”

Recovery from a stroke is most successful if treatment begins within the first 3 hours after symptoms appear. A stroke is a serious medical event, both because it can (and does) kill, and because it can inflict long-term harm on those lucky enough to survive it..
This is why immediate attention is a must for this potentially debilitating affliction.

If you suspect you have had a mild stroke or are in a high risk factor bracket, you owe it to yourself to seek out your health care professional and discuss your concerns.

Stroke, which commonly refers to hemiplegia, can cause weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Impaired sensation and muscular co-ordination, speech and language problems, impaired control over bladder and bowel, emotional labiality and cognitive defects are the common after effects of stroke. Stroke rehabilitation is very important in order to enable the affected person to achieve self-sufficiency to the maximum extent possible.

People who have had a stroke are at an increased risk of having another stroke, especially within one year. It is important to continue medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Smoking and alcohol should be stopped completely. The Ayurvedic treatment for the rehabilitation of stroke patients is aimed at speeding up the recovery process and reducing long term disability. Treatment during the acute paralytic stage is best done in a hospital. Once the patient has been discharged from hospital, Ayurvedic treatment should be initiated at the earliest, in order to derive maximum benefit.

Medicines like Yograj-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Trayodashang-Guggulu, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras and Vat-Gajankush-Ras are used to reduce the after effects of paralysis. Tapyadi-Loh, Ekang-Veer-Ras and Kaishor-Guggulu can be used to normalize neuromuscular activity. Trayodashang-Guggulu and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu help in reducing rigidity and stiffness of muscles. Medicines like Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivadi-Churna, Chandrakala-Ras, Sutshekhar-Ras, Kamdudha-Ras, Praval-Bhasma, Rakta-Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis), Chandan (Santalum album), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) are used to reduce inflammation and damage to the micro vessels in the brain, help in dissolving blood clots and improve the circulation in areas with a deficient blood supply. Medicines like Suvarna-Sutshekhar-Ras, Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and Dhamasa (Fagonia cretica) are used to reduce stress and prevent the blood pressure from increasing.

Panchkarma procedures are adopted in order to speed up the recovery of paralyzed muscles. The entire body is massaged with medicated oils like Mahanarayan oil, Mahamash oil and Maha-Saindhavadi oil. This is followed by steam fomentation of the entire body using medicines like Dashmool-Qadha and Nirgundi-Qadha. Fomentation is best avoided, or done with utmost care, in patients having a high blood pressure or a history of hemorrhagic stroke. Severely paralyzed limbs can be massaged separately using different techniques like ‘Pizichil’ or ‘Pinda-sweda’.

Regular exercise in moderation and systematic physiotherapy is very important in regaining muscular function and co-ordination. Yogic asanas, pranayam and different relaxation techniques can help a lot in speeding up the recovery process. The judicious use of Ayurvedic medicines and Ayurvedic Panchkarma procedures can definitely help a lot in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.