Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also called stroke, happens when the brain lacks enough oxygen to function properly. In this case, the blood flow to the brain is stopped either by a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel. And then brain cells start to die suddenly. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
CVA IS the second leading cause of death worldwide and the third leading cause of death in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association. Each year, about 600,000 strokes occur in the United States, 25 percent of which are fatal ones.
Cerebrovascular disease happens for a variety of reasons.
The symptoms of cerebrovascular accident depend on what area of the brain has stopped working, and the severity of affected cerebral tissue.
Common symptoms that patients may present include:
The symptoms of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke may be the same, but patients with hemorrhagic stroke may experience headache and vomiting more frequently.
The purpose of diagnosis is to evaluate the type of stroke and the areas of brain affected by the stroke, and to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
At the hospital, a doctor will ask about the patient’s medical history and look for specific neurological, motor, and sensory deficits. The doctor may also perform the following tests:
Treatment for a cerebrovascular accident vary depending on its type, either an ischemic stroke or a hemorrhagic stroke.
Ischemic stroke
The major task of treating an ischemic stroke is to restore blood flow to brain.
Medications:
Surgeries
A carotid endarterectomy involves removing plaques from arteries. This allows the blood to flow again. The artery is repaired with sutures or a graft.
In an angioplasty, a surgeon usually accesses your carotid arteries through an artery in your groin.
Hemorrhagic stroke
The treatment of hemorrhagic stroke focuses on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure in brain.
Medications:
Surgeries:
Surgery may be used to repair blood vessel abnormalities associated with hemorrhagic strokes.
A surgeon places a tiny clamp at the base of the aneurysm, to stop blood flow to it.
Preventive measures
Medications:
Dipyridamole, Ticlopidine, and Clopidogrel are blood platelet inhibitors that reduce the risk of stroke before it happens.
Statins are useful in treating cerebrovascular accident by decreasing the risk of ischemic stroke.
These drugs are used to dissolve the clot that is obstructing blood flow to the brain
Surgeries:
A carotid endarterectomy prevents a cerebrovascular accident or a recurrent cerebrovascular accident.
Keywords: cerebrovascular accident, CVA.