Stroke

Question 1

what is stroke?

Answer 1

death of brain tissue from hypoxia (low oxygen)

Question 2

what is transient ischaemic attack (TIA)?

Answer 2

like a ‘mini stroke’ caused by TEMPORARY ischaemia [(reduced blood flow)-> resulting in reduced oxygen to tissue too]

Question 3

what are the risks for stroke?

Answer 3

hypertension
smoking
alcohol
ischaemic heart diseased (decreased blood from heart)
atrial fibrillation
Diabetes

Question 4

what are the direct causes of stroke?

Answer 4

• intracranial bleed (aneurysm rupture)
• embolism (blocked artery from clot/air bubble)

Question 5

how do you prevent strokes?

Answer 5

reduce risk factors:
- smoking, diabetes control, control hypertension

Antiplatelets: (prevent platelets from clumping together)
- aspirin
- dipyridamole
- clopidogrel

Anticoagulants: (reduce synthesis of clotting factors to thin blood)
- warfarin, apixaban

Question 6

what are ways of investigating strokes?

Answer 6

• imaging [CT, MRI, Angiography]

Question 7

what are the effects of stroke?

Answer 7

loss of functional brain tissue (immediate nerve cell death)

gradual/rapid loss of function

inflammation in tissue around the bleed/infarction

Question 8

what are complications of strokes?

Answer 8

• motor function loss
• sensory loss
• cognitive impairment

Question 9

whats the 2 main managements of stroke?

Answer 9

Acute:
- limit damage (remove any haematomas)
- reduce future risk (aspirin, maybe anticoagulants?)

Chronic:
- rehabilitation
- reduce future risk (aspirin, maybe anticoagulants?)