Cerebrovascular accident
Cerebral Infarction and Cerebral Hemorrhage
A cerbral infarction results from an artery becoming blocked. It can be caused by an atheromatous plaque, as is the case with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, or by the formation of a blood clot, as is the case with cerebral embolism. Occlusion can also occur in several arterioles (small arteries) and is frequently observed in diabetic or hypertensive patients. The obstruction of the artery prevents oxygen from reaching the nerve cells, resulting in their death.
Cerebral haemorrhage is the most serious type of stroke in terms of sequelae (long-term consequences and complications resulting from a stroke) and mortality. It most often caused from an artery bursting in the brain. This rupture deprives the brain of oxygen and results in the compression of brain tissue. The nerve cells are then damaged or even destroyed. The first cause of cerebral haemorrhage is high blood pressure.
Symptoms of a stroke
The symptoms of a stroke depends on the area of the brain affected and the severity of the lesions. Their occurrence is brutal and there are no warning signs. Among the most frequently encountered symptoms are:
- Problems with speech and vision
- A loss of balance
- A loss of sensitivity that can lead to the paralysis of a limb, face or side of the body (hemiplegia)
- Severe headaches, without apparent cause.
The symptoms can be very brief if the obstruction of the artery is temporary. This is known as transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA is a warning signal and requires immediate medical consultation.
Risk Factors and Stroke Treatments
The two main risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, many other factors can lead to strokes, such as:
- a history of stroke or TIA
- cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, myocardial infarction...)
- diabetes
- migraines or sleep apnea
- smoking
- obesity
- an unbalanced diet- physical inactivity
- excessive consumption of alcohol
Therefore, prevention is a key factor in combatting strokes. The French Federation of Cardiology places particular emphasis on the importance of reducing risk factors for high blood pressure, namely smoking and obesity.
What to do after a stroke?
Stroke is a medical emergency and requires hospitalisation. A stroke can potentially be fatal and if care has been delayed, the consequences are much more severe. The primary goal is to restore blood flow in the case of cerebral infarction and to contain the flow of blood in the case of cerebral hemorrhage.
Cerebral infarction often requires the prescription of an anticoagulant. In the case of hemorrhage, surgery is necessary to heal the aneurysm and remove the accumulated blood in the brain tissue. In addition, an angioplasty (operation to dilate the artery) may be considered to prevent the risk of recurrence. These treatments are combined with re-education to promote patient recovery.
Published 1 Jan 2018
