The Video
Causes
Ischemic stroke
Brain infarction A bloodclot gets stuck in a brain bloodvessel During a stroke a part of the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen
Hemorragic stroke
Brain bleed A brain bloodvessel bursts and a brain bleed occurs Sometimes caused by a brain aneurysm. A TIA (Transient ischemic attack) is a temporary blockage of a bloodvessel in the brain.
F.A.S.T.
How to recognize a stroke?
Face
Arms
Speech
Time
Risk Factors
BEING OVERWEIGHT
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
SMOKING
DIABETES
POOR DIET, NO EXERCISE
Diagnosis
- Patients history
- CT or MRI
- CT angiogram, MR Angiogram or conventional angiogram (examination of the brain bloodvessels)
Symptoms
Depends on where the stroke begins in the brain
Face
Drooping on one side of face
Dizzy
Sudden Dizziness or unsteady gait
Numbness
Weakness and or numbness in one side of the body
Vision
Sudden blurry or double vision
Speech
Slurred speech/inability to speak
Treatment
Ischemic stroke:
- Medication that resolves the bloodclot (trombolysis) -> within 4,5 hours of onset of symptoms
- Removal of the clot (trombectomy, not yet possible on Curacao)
Hemorragic stroke:
In case of a brain aneurysm:
- Eliminating the aneurysm with titanium spirals (coiling) (not yet available on Curacao)
- Eliminating aneurysm surgically In case of a bleeding without an aneurysm: Surgery is not always needed or not always possible. Surgery will not improve neurological disability.
- Rehabilitation will be necessary for improvement of the complaints. Preventive: Treatment if risk factors, in case of brain infarction also bloodthinning medication is given.
