Stroke

Question 1

What are the causes of Impaired Brain Function?

Answer 1

• Autoimmune
• Infection
• Genetic
• Enviroment/ Chemical insult
• Oxygen deprivation
• Degeneration
• Trauma
• Tumors
• Altered neurotransmittor production/activity

Question 2

What are the causes of Ischaemic stroke?

Answer 2

-Obstruction of blood supply to a region of the brain (eg. Blood clot).

Question 3

What is a thrombus?

Answer 3

-A blood clot caused by sclerosis plaque.

Question 4

What is an atheroma?

Answer 4

• Plaque, stops blood flow.

Question 5

What is an Embolus?

Answer 5

• A tissue fragment/ blood clot that has travelled from another part of the body.

Question 6

What causes a Haemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 6

• Brain Bleed

- Blood leaks out of the cerebal blood vessel accumulating on delicate brain tissue.

Question 7

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 7

-The weakening of a blood vessel wall (no warning).

Question 8

What is trauma (contusion)?

Answer 8

-Bursting of a blood vessel.

Question 9

What weakens arteries?

Answer 9

• Atheroma’s
• Marfan’s Syndrome
• Destruction of elastin by proteolytic
• Continued high pressure on the collagen matrix due to hypertension.

Question 10

What is the pathophysiology of haemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 10

-Blood leaks out of the cerebral circulation. There is nowhere for the blood to go inside the inclosed cranial cavity, therefore, pressure is increased on delicate neurons and blood vessels.

Question 11

Stroke + Brain damage

Answer 11

• The functional impact is determined by the area of the lesion.
• If motor-sensory cortex has a lesion, the opposite side of the body is affected.

Question 12

What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke?

Answer 12

Face = Is one side drooping 
Arm= Is one side weak
Speech= Slurred? 
Time= Act fast, call 111

Are they:
-off balance, confused, having visual or cognitive difficulties?

Question 13

What is a Transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

Answer 13

• Mini Stroke
• Result when a cerebral artery is temporarily blocked.
• Reduced blood flow to the brain.

Question 14

What is a stroke?

Answer 14

-Complete blockage of a cerebral artery, causing decreased oxygen blood supply leading to the death of brain cells and permanent loss of certain functions.

Question 15

What are stroke risk factors?

Answer 15

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Excessive drug and alcohol use
• Hereditary

Question 16

What is the treatment for ischaemic stroke?

Answer 16

-Remove the obstruction and perfusion, break down blood clot to re-introduce blood supply.

Question 17

What is the treatment for haemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 17

• Stabilise intracranial pressure/ stop the bleeding.
• Decrease blood pressure
• Prescribe anti-seizure medication
• Drain the blood from the area
• Coil/ clip the aneurysm.

Question 18

What is TPA?

Answer 18

• Tissue plasminogen activator.

- Only works within 0-4 hours of when the symptoms of an ischaemic stroke began.

Question 19

What are the symptoms experienced in the acute phases of a stroke?

Answer 19

-Loss of function in the left arm and left leg as a result of the right side of the brain being affected.

Question 20

How to determine if an individual has had a stroke?

Answer 20

-CT scan (see if there is a brain bleed, treat haemorrhagic).