www.google.com/search?

q=Stroke

Stroke

Also called: CVA, cerebrovascular accident

Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply.

Common

More than 200,000 US cases per year

Requires a medical diagnosis
Lab tests or imaging always required
Can't be cured, but treatment may help
A stroke is a medical emergency.

Symptoms of stroke include trouble walking, speaking, and

understanding, as well as paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg.

Early treatment with medications like tPA (clot buster) can minimize brain
damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing
additional strokes.

Ages affected
0-2
3-5
6-13
14-18
19-40
41-60
60+

Symptoms
Requires a medical diagnosis

Symptoms of stroke include trouble walking, speaking, and

understanding, as well as paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg.

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People may experience:

Muscular: difficulty walking, paralysis with weak muscles, problems with

coordination, stiff muscles, overactive reflexes, or paralysis of one side of
the body
Visual: blurred vision, double vision, sudden visual loss, or temporary
loss of vision in one eye
Whole body: balance disorder, fatigue, or lightheadedness
Speech: difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or speech loss
Sensory: pins and needles or reduced sensation of touch
Facial: muscle weakness or numbness
Limbs: numbness or weakness

Also common: difficulty swallowing, headache, inability to understand,

mental confusion, numbness, or rapid involuntary eye movement

Treatments
Can't be cured, but treatment may help

Early treatment with medications like tPA (clot buster) can minimize brain
damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing
additional strokes.

Prescription

ACE Inhibitor: Lisinopril (Prinivil)

Blood thinners: Heparin by injection, Clopidogrel (Plavix), Apixaban,

Warfarin (Coumadin)
Statin: Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Other treatments: Irbesartan (Avapro), Reteplase by injection, Alteplase

by injection

Self-treatment

Anti-inflammatory: Aspirin

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Also common

Lifestyle: Smoking cessation, Physical exercise

Devices: Cardiac monitoring

Procedures: Carotid endarterectomy

Therapies: Stroke rehabiliation, Speech therapy, Rehabilitation,

Occupational therapy, Physical therapy

Specialists

Neurologist: Treats nervous system disorders.

Critical care doctor: Monitors and treats those in intensive care.

Speech therapist: Specializes in voice rehabilitation.

Radiologist: Uses images to diagnose and treat disease within the body.
Occupational therapist: Improves daily living and work skills of patients.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation: Restores function and quality of
life to those with physical disabilities.
Physical therapist: Restores muscle strength and function through
exercise.
Neurosurgeon: Specializes in nervous system disorders.

Primary care provider (PCP): Prevents, diagnoses, and treats diseases.

Emergency medicine doctor: Treats patients in the emergency
department.
Critical: consult a doctor for medical advice
Note: The information you see describes what usually happens with a medical condition, but
doesn't apply to everyone. This information isn't medical advice, so make sure to contact a
healthcare provider if you have a medical problem. If you think you may have a medical
emergency, call your doctor or a emergency number immediately.

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