Brain Stroke is Treatable: A Guide To Treatment & Recovery
Brain strokes occur when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. They are one of the primary causes of death and disability among adults. However, detailed knowledge regarding the symptoms can lead to prevention of such stroke emergencies. In fact, prior information can also lead to immediate medical care in the event of sudden stroke emergencies.
So here’s everything that you must know for stroke treatment and recovery.
The Warning Signs
Our body has its way of reporting abnormalities. Brain strokes leave the impacted area of the brain immobile which means some of the normal body functions get challenging to perform. The common ones include:
• Drifting Arm: Difficulty in raising either pair of arms or numbness in one side of the body.
• Strange Speech: Difficulty in speaking as well as interpreting speech.
• Imbalance: Difficulty in walking or maintaining balance.
In most cases, a stroke, depending on the part of the brain affected, can cause painless paralysis of one side of the body, speech/vision issues, slow reactions, memory loss, etc.
The Treatment
Clot size, location, and type can vary from patients to patients. Depending on the nature of the clot, there are two kinds of treatment for brain strokes, i.e., the Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke.
The Ischemic Stroke Treatment
This is the most common stroke caused due to the blocking of the brain artery. The most effective and minimally invasive treatment for Ischemic Stroke patients is Alteplase or the Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) injection. It is given through one of the veins of the arm. The patient must receive the (tPA) treatment within 3-4 hours of stroke symptoms.
In some cases, that requires a slightly longer time window, doctors prefer emergency endovascular procedures over tPA. In the endovascular procedure, the medication is delivered directly to the blood clot area using a catheter. Catheters are long thin tubes, which are inserted through one of the groin arteries and directed towards the blood clot to deliver medication. If the lumps are large, the doctor may remove the clot all together by inserting a stent retriever through the catheter. Over the years, endovascular procedures have proved to be a proven treatment for diagnosing as well as reversing disability impact of strokes.
In addition to this, Carotid endarterectomy, Angioplasty and stents procedures are also preferred treatments to reduce the chances of future ischemic stroke in patients.
The Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment
In the case of hemorrhagic strokes, the brain suffers from internal bleeding; therefore, the treatment focuses on lowering brain pressure to reduce the bleeding. If the medications prove ineffective, doctors opt for surgical procedures to stop the bleeding. The doctors may choose from a variety of methods as deemed fit.
• Clipping.
• Coiling (endovascular embolization).
• Surgical AVM.
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
In case of a stroke, every minute is crucial; therefore one is required to act fast. Several factors like the clot size, location, type, etc. dictate the use of drug and surgery needed for clot treatment.
The Recovery
The recovery time can vary depending on the extent of the damage caused to the brain tissues. The rehabilitation programme/treatment is planned to take into consideration the age, medical history, and impact of the stroke.
Depending on the condition of the patient and the side of the brain affected, stroke treatment may include consultations with a range of specialists like a neurologist, physiatrist, Dietitian, Recreational therapist, Psychologist or psychiatrist etc. Medipulse, best neurology hospital in Jodhpur, has one of the most advanced Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery Departments. The department is chaired by Dr. Kirti Sachdeva who brings years of experience and expertise in Dept. of Neurology like - Stroke Thrombolysis, CVT MGMT, Dementia, Parkinson's Disease etc.