stroke- adult barriers

why is stroke called the heart attack of the brain?

because it impacts the arteries leading to and within the brain, these arteries carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain but in the case of a stroke the brain is either blocked off by a clot or bursts the vessel

what is the incidence rate of stroke in the US?

stroke is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans, ¼ strokes are within people who have had a previous stroke

what is the standout point of ischemic strokes?

blood and oxygen flow are not able to occur into the brain due to some sort of blockage, typically plaque in the artery. this is the umbrella term that both embolic and thrombotic strokes fall into

what is the standout point of an embolic stroke?

similarly to an ischemic stroke, an embolic stroke causes arterial blockages in the brain but this time it is an embolus which is a clot formed anywhere in the body other than the brain, but once in the brain it causes a blockage causing a-fibs

what is the standout point of thrombotic stroke?

blockages that form within the brain typically in larger arteries. these are called TIAs or “mini strokes” that precede major strokes, a temporary blockage

what are the symptoms of a thrombotic stroke?

depending on the brain area affected, however people with TIAs are more likely to have stroke. there are typically not as many residuals but symptoms dependent on the brain are come and go

what is the standout point of a hemorrhagic stroke?

weakened blood vessel causes a breakage causing bleeding directly into the brain, most common cause is HTN, very high mortality rate, leading symptom is a bad headache, commonly causes intercranial hemorrhage

what is a cerebral aneurysm

a weak area in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the vessel to bulge or balloon out, when this occurs in a blood vessel in the brain it is a cerebral aneurysm (when the ballooning pops, then it is a hemorrhage)

what is an arteriovenous malformation?

cluster of abnormally formed blood vessels tangled up in any spot of the brain, these vessels are often weak and can rupture resulting in a hemorrhagic stroke/bleeding into the brain, this is a congenital disorder

what are symptoms and prognosis for an arteriovenous malformation

dizziness and disorientation are common symptoms for those with an arteriovenous malformation, prognosis is always surgery to repair it

what are modifiable risk factors for a stroke?

HTN, stress, cardiac disease, a-fib, diabetes, smoking cigs, alcohol abuse, hyperlipidemia (high cholestrol)

what are non-modifiable stroke risk factors?

age, gender (men more than women), race, genetic predisposition, having a previous stroke or TIA or sleep apnea

what are common signs and symptoms of stroke that occur regardless of where in the brain the stroke is

unilateral and sudden weakness/numbness of face arm or leg, sudden changes in speech, confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, severe headaches, random and sudden nausea or vomiting

what is the FAST acronym for stroke?

F (face): is there a facial droop when the person smiles?

A (arms): does one arm drift downward when asking the person to flex both shoulders?

S (speech): are the persons words slurred when they are asked to repeat a simple sentence? can they do this correctly?

T (time): if the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important to call 911 ASAP to get to the ER

what is the most common clinical presentation of someone with stroke upon physical exam?

facial droop, acute weakness unilaterally, sensory impairment unilaterally, aphasia, dysphagia, and altered mental status

what is the most commonly used method of diagnostic testing for stroke?

transcranial and carotid doppler: noninvasive visualization of cerebral vessels, determines need for further treatment. CT is least common method

how could clots be busted or removed in the case of an ischemic stroke?

removing the clot occurs through a thrombectomy, using a catheter up the groin, arm or leg all the way up in to the brain. there is specific eligibility criteria for this though

what is endovascular emobilization?

a way to treat an aneurysm before it could rupture, by placing a coil to prevent further blood flowing into the aneurysm blood vessel but allow it to continue through normal vessels

what is the traditional presentation of a right sided of the brain stroke

• visual perceptual deficits

• left sided neglect

• sensory and motor deficits on left

• impulsivity

• impaired memory

what is the traditional presentation of a left sided of the brain stroke

• aphasia

• sensory and motor deficits on right

• slow and cautious behavior

• impaired memory

what is the traditional presentation general both sides of the brain issue associated with a stroke

• vision

• concentration (memory and concentration specifically)

• fatigue

• balance

• swallowing impairments

• changes in mood and personality

• incontinence

what is apart of acute stroke management

monitoring vitals, beware of anticoagulation meds like with falls and shaving could cause person to bleed out. OT is paused when stroke is evolving, but once they are cleared by doc be aware of these things