Effects of a Stroke

If you missed last weeks post, you can find it here.

Each stroke is different.  How well you recover from a stroke depends upon many factors including how much and what parts of your brain were damaged and your health before the stroke.  The work you do with your stroke rehabilitation team and the support from family and friends is also important to your recovery.

A stroke damages the brain and causes a sudden loss of brain function.  Because your brain controls everything you do, say and think a stroke can have a lot of different effects.

The cerebrum

The cerebrum is responsible for controlling movement and sensation, speech, thinking, memory, sexual function and regulation of emotions.  It is divided into right and left sides or hemispheres.

Effects of left hemisphere strokes

• Weakness or paralysis on the right side of your body.  Trouble reading, talking, thinking or doing math.
• Your behaviour may become more slow and cautious than usual.
• You may have trouble learning or remembering new information.

Effects of right hemisphere strokes

• Weakness or paralysis on the left side of your body.
• Vision problems
• Problems distinguishing distance, depth, between up and down, or between front and back.  this can make it hard to pick up objects, button a shirt, or tie your shoes.
• Problems understanding maps.
• Problems with short-term memory.  You may be able to remember something that happened several years ago, but not something you did a few minutes ago.
• Forgetting or ignoring objects or people on your left side (this is called neglect).  You may  even ignore your own left arm or leg.
• Judgement difficulties, such as acting impulsively or not realizing your own limitations.

Brain Stem strokes 

• This is an uncommon type of stroke.  The brain stem is the area at the very base of the brain, right above the spinal cord.  if you have a stroke in the brain stem, you can have problems with:
• Breathing and heart function.
• Body temperature control
• Balance and coordination
• weakness or paralysis of your arms and legs on both sides of the body.
• Chewing, swallowing and speaking.
• Vision.

Strokes in the cerebellum

Although strokes are less common in the cerebellum. (The part of the brain at the back of the skull, its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity) The effects can be severe.  Four common effects of strokes in the cerebellum include:

• Inability to walk and problems with coordination and balance (called ataxia).
• Dizziness
• Headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Will a stroke change my life?

Any major illness will change your life.  Almost all stroke survivors recover to some extent. Most stroke survivors go on to lead full, meaningful lives. 

Over several Wednesdays I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the Brain, √  Anatomy of the Brain, part 2 √
• Ischemic Stroke √ 
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - part 1 √  Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - part 2 √
• Hemorragic Stroke √
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke) - Causes √ 
• Stroke in Children (Paediatric Stroke) - Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation √ 
• Effects of a Stroke √ 

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

STROKE - Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke), part 2

(If you missed, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke), part 1 - you can find it  here.)

TIA is a medical emergency.  Seek immediate medical treatment if you think you or someone else is having a TIA.

 Remember -  Take  Immediate  Action

What happens during a TIA?

You may feel any or all of the symptoms of stroke except they go away within a few minutes or hours. Learn more about the stroke warning signs.

Why is TIA an emergency?

A TIA is a very serious warning sign that says something is wrong with blood flow to your brain.

Calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number ensures you will get help quickly. Doctors may be able to give you a clot-busting drug that restore blood flow to your brain. However, because the drug is only effective within the first three hours of the onset of symptoms, you must get to the hospital as soon as possible. Do not wait for your symptoms to disappear - call 9-1-1 as quickly as possible. Even if your symptoms do go away, it is important for you to find out what is causing these symptoms. 

A TIA is a serious warning sign that you are at higher risk for having a stroke.

If you have had a TIA, you are at a higher risk for having a stroke. The greatest risk is immediately after the TIA and llasts for up to one year later. The good news about TIA is that it provides a warning about your higher risk and gives you a chance to take action to reduce your risk.

What causes a TIA?

The most common cause of a TIA is a blood clot or plaque that prevents blood from flowing to your brain. Here’s how it happens:

TIA caused by plaque:	TIA caused by a blood clot:
Plaque refers to a build-up of cholesterol, fatty deposits and other substances. It gathers inside the wall of an artery and narrows the size of the blood vessel (also called atherosclerosis). This may reduce blood flow to the brain. Plaque can also break off and block arteries to the brain.	A blood clot may form in other parts of the body and travel to the brain. Many blood clots travel from the heart to the artery that feeds the brain. If you have atrial fibrillation (a fast, irregular heart rate),problems with your heart valves, a patent foramen ovale (a defect in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart), or a weak heart muscle, you may be at higher risk for a TIA.

You may have other health problems that can cause a TIA. Talk to your healthcare provider about your health and whether you are at higher risk for TIA.

How do doctors know that someone has had a TIA?

It is sometimes difficult for doctors to know if you have had a TIA because the symptoms have usually gone away by the time the doctor sees you. The key to treating a TIA is knowing that a TIA has happened. The doctor may want to perform tests to find out the cause of the TIA. Once the cause is known, you and your healthcare team can work on a plan to prevent future TIAs or strokes. Read more about diagnostic tests.

How can I prevent another TIA? How to manage the main risk factors

The goal of treatment is to prevent you from having another TIA or a stroke. The way to reach this goal is to reduce your risk factors. While some risk factors are beyond your control, you can manage other risk factors by leading a healthy lifestyle, taking prescribed medications or having surgery.

Risk factors you cannot control 

Risk factors you can do something about

Treatments for TIA

Medications

Doctors may prescribe two main types of medication to treat TIAs - antiplatelets or anticoagulants (blood thinners). They prevent or destroy blood clots and can lower the risk of stroke in people who have had TIAs or previous strokes.

• Your doctor may also prescribe medication to control your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol. Read more about medications.

When you have been prescribed medication, you must:

• Take the medication as directed.
• Report any side effects to your healthcare team right away.
• Only stop taking the medication after you have talked to your healthcare team.
• Bring your medication with you in the original bottle each time you visit the clinic or doctor’s office.

If you have any questions about your medication, talk to your healthcare team.

Surgery

• Sometimes surgery is the best way to prevent a stroke. Your doctor will tell you if this is the right treatment for you. Read more about surgery and other procedures. 

Over several Wednesdays I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the Brain, √  Anatomy of the Brain, part 2 √
• Ischemic Stroke √ 
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - part 1 √  Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - part 2 √
• Hemorragic stroke - next Wednesday
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke)
• Effects of a stroke

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

STROKE - Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke), part 1

TIA is a medical emergency.  Seek immediate medical treatment if you think you or someone else is having a TIA.

 Remember -  Take  Immediate  Action

What is a TIA?

The medical term is Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). It is also known as a mini-stroke. It happens when a clot stops blood from flowing to the brain for a short time. The symptoms of TIA are almost the same as the symptoms of a stroke, however symptoms go away within a few minutes or hours. Having a TIA is an important warning sign. It tells you that you have a higher risk of having a stroke.

A TIA warns you of a stroke. It also gives you a chance to prevent a stroke.

For more information, please watch the following videos.

How to recognize, prevent and treat a TIA or mini-stroke - part one

How to recognize, prevent and treat a TIA or mini-stroke - part two

Over several Wednesdays I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the brain √
• Ischemic stroke √ 
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - part 1 √ ...next  Wednesday, part 2
• Hemorragic stroke
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke)
• Effects of a stroke

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

STROKE - Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke -

About 80% of strokes are ischemic, which means they are caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain due to a blood clot. The buildup of plaque (fatty materials, calcium and scar tissue) is involved in most ischemic strokes narrowing the arteries that supply blood to the brain, interfering with, or blocking the flow of blood. This narrowing is called atherosclerosis. An ischemic stroke is either "thrombotic" or "embolic."

Thrombotic strokes are caused by a blood clot that forms in an artery directly leading to the brain. Embolic strokes occur when a clot develops somewhere else in the body and travels through the blood stream to the brain.

A TIA, or Transient Ischemic Attack which is also known as a "mini-stroke" is caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. The symptoms (warning signs) are similar to an ischemic stroke except they go away within a few minutes or hours. Many people can have a TIA without even knowing it. A TIA is an important warning sign that puts you at increased risk of a full-blown stroke.

Over several Wednesdays I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the brain √
• Ischemic stroke √ 
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke) - next Wednesday
• Hemorragic stroke
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke)
• Effects of a stroke

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica
Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

STROKE - Anatomy of the brain, part 2

To be able to understand what happens to our bodies in the event of a stroke, we must first begin to understand the brain.

If you missed my last post, STROKE - Anatomy of the Brain, part 1, you can find it here.

In my last post I talked about how the brain is divided into three areas, the brain stem,  cerebellum and cerebrum.  How the cerebrum is made of two halves or hemispheres and each hemisphere is divided into portions called lobes.

Today, I'm going to go into a little more detail on the brain's hemispheres and lobes.  

Right hemisphere

• The right side of the brain controls artistic functions such as music, awareness of art and insight. It also controls the ability to understand spatial relations, recognize faces and focus your attention on something. People with a stroke on the right side may have trouble with these functions.

Left hemisphere

• The left side of the brain is responsible for scientific function, such as the ability to work with numbers (mathematical skills) and reasoning. It also is largely responsible for the ability to understand spoken language and the written word.

The lobes

The entire cerebrum is made up of two layers. The outermost layer is called entire cerebral cortex (gray matter).   The cortex is deeply wrinkled and three of the deepest folds are used to artificially divide the hemispheres into four distinct areas or lobes.

• Frontal lobe: In each hemisphere, the frontal lobe is responsible for movement (motor functions). A stroke in the right side of the frontal lobe will affect your ability to move the left side of your body, and vice versa.
• Parietal lobe: Behind the frontal lobe lies the parietal lobe. It is concerned mainly with sensory activities, such as receiving and interpreting information from all parts of the body. A stroke to the parietal lobes in the right hemisphere can cause agnosia, which means you can feel, see and hear, but may not be able to understand what you are perceiving. In other cases, a condition called neglect may develop. People with neglect have many sensory problems on the stroke-involved side of the body. As a result, they may ignore everything on that side.
• Temporal lobe: The temporal lobe controls hearing and memory and is also involved with auditory perception. Strokes in the temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere (usually the left hemisphere) can cause a speech disorder known as Wernickes aphasia. Memories are stored in the inner part of the temporal lobe. Unless both the left and right lobes are damaged, memory loss after stroke is usually only temporary.
• Occipital lobe: The occipital lobe lies at the back of the head and is responsible for vision. A stroke in the left occipital lobe may result in losing the right side of your vision. Damage to the right occipital lobe can cause vision loss on your left side. In both cases, the eyes are functioning normally and the problem lies with the brain's ability to process information from the eyes.

Over several Wednesdays I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the brain √
• Ischemic stroke - next Wednesday
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke)
• Hemorragic stroke
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke)
• Effects of a stroke

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica
Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

STROKE - Anatomy of the brain

To be able to understand what happens to our bodies in the event of a stroke, we must first begin to understand the brain.

If you missed my first post on STROKE, you can find it HERE

What is the brain?

Different parts of the brain control different functions. When someone has a stroke, the functions that are affected depend upon which area of the brain was damaged and how much damage occurred. Learning what the different parts of the brain do can help you understand why the effects of stroke can be so different among different people.

What are the parts of the brain?

The brain is divided into three areas, the brain stem, cerebellum and cerebrum:

Brain Stem

The brain stem sits at the base of the brain and connects to the top of your spine. It maintains important body functions such as breathing, swallowing, digestion, eye movement and your heartbeat. Strokes in the brain stem are often fatal, but when they are not, they affect many of these functions.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is located at the bottom of the brain, at the back of your head. It is attached to the back of the brain stem, and looks like a miniature brain. It helps control some automatic responses and behaviours, simple movements such as picking up a small object, and more complicated tasks such as balancing. A stroke in this part of the brain could cause a lack of coordination, clumsiness, shaking or other movement disorders.

Cerebrum

Also known as the "thinking brain," the cerebrum is the main, bulky part of your brain. This is where thinking and muscle control occurs. The cerebrum is made of two halves or hemispheres. Each hemisphere is divided into portions called lobes.

Usually, one of these hemispheres is slightly more developed and is called the dominant side. The dominant side is where written and spoken language is organized. In almost all of us, the left hemisphere is dominant even if you are right handed. Because the nervous system is set up in a cross-over design, the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body, and vice versa.

Over the next several weeks I will offer information on the following - 

• Anatomy of the brain...continued - next Wednesday
• Ischemic stroke
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or mini-stroke)
• Hemorragic stroke
• Stroke in children (Paediatric stroke)
• Effects of a stroke

 All information contained in this post was obtained, with permission, from the Heart and Stroke Foundation  website. Please visit their site for more information.

Monica
Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.