Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of stroke.
Stroke, the leading single-disease cause of death in Korea, is a general term for focal neurological deficits that appear suddenly because of abnormal blood flow to the brain. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, serious after-effects can remain, so a quick response is essential. The types of stroke are cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke) and cerebral hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke).
Stroke is a vascular disease, and it is more likely to occur when there are risk factors that can damage the blood vessels of the brain.
High blood pressure or diabetes
Smoking
High cholesterol
Heavy drinking or severe obesity
Heart disease such as angina or arrhythmia
Slurred or difficult speech
Blurred or double vision
A sudden headache unlike any you have had before
Repeatedly falling to one side
Diagnosis is made through neurological and medical examinations based on the patient's medical history. Stroke is diagnosed with tests such as CT and MRI, and Doppler, ultrasound, detailed cardiac tests and cerebral angiography are used to find the cause. In the acute phase of ischemic stroke, CT and MRI can appear normal even when symptoms are clear, so the role of the medical team is important.
The sooner treatment begins, the more brain tissue damage can be prevented. If a stroke is suspected, take the patient to an emergency room immediately for treatment.
Once ischemia progresses to infarction and brain tissue is damaged, the tissue itself cannot be restored by any treatment. Treatment therefore focuses first on controlling the risk factors that cause stroke and its recurrence. Drugs used in the acute phase of ischemic stroke to reduce the area of infarction include antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants and thrombolytics. If needed, treatment may also include procedures or surgery.
For intracerebral hemorrhage caused by high blood pressure, controlling blood pressure and intracranial pressure is important. Surgery may be performed for patients who worsen despite appropriate medication or who have a large amount of bleeding.
