Stroke Description
When the brain does not receive its normal blood, oxygen, and nutrient supply from the arteries, a stroke occurs. In the US, strokes account for the third most common cause of death. Heart disease and all types of cancer account for the first and second causes, respectively.
A stroke causes the death of brain cells permanently.
Stroke Types and Causes
Strokes generally occur in three ways.
- Lacunar Stroke. A blood vessel in the brain itself forms a clot – thrombosis – and limits or totally blocks the blood and oxygen supply. By far this is the most common type of stroke
- Embolic Stroke. A piece of a blood clot or cholesterol deposit – from a different part of the body – travels to the brain, causing a blockage – embolism, thus causing a stroke.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke. A blood vessel in the brain ruptures – cerebral hemorrhage. The blood does not reach its destination, and its accumulation disrupts the normal function of other blood vessels causing a stroke.
Common contributors to stroke are high blood pressure, age, diabetes, and specific heart diseases. There are, however, rarer factors that cause strokes. Individuals with vasculitis, homocystinuria, a genetic predisposition to blood clots, or individuals administered aprotinin for surgery are much more likely to suffer from strokes.
Stroke Symptoms
Five major signs of stroke are listed by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
All the following stroke symptoms occur suddenly.
- Trouble seeing with one or both eyes.
- Severe headache or migraine.
- Loss of sense of balance or coordination.
- Confusion; partial or complete loss of speech and comprehension skills.
- Numbness or weakness, partial or complete, in the face, arm, leg – often on one side of the body
Stroke Consequences
The consequences of a stroke vary, depending on the part of the brain that dies due to it.
Stroke Survivor Therapy
- Speech Therapy. The stroke survivor learns how to speak and swallow again.
- Occupational Therapy. The stroke survivor recovers dexterity in hands and arms.
- Physical Therapy. The stroke survivor improves strength for various functions.
- Family Therapy. The stroke survivor’s family learns the tasks and challenges of home care.
Rehabilitation is necessary after an individual experiences and survives a stroke. However, even with consistent rehabilitation, the restoration of normal faculties before the stroke is not a realistic expectation.
Stroke and Time Limitations
Strokes occur suddenly and all its types are treated as medical emergencies. If you have undergone surgery and been injected with aprotinin – manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals as Trasylol – seek immediate medical attention. The drug triggers strokes, as well as heart attacks, kidney failure, and internal hemorrhage.
Time is of the essence when reporting incidences of stroke or aprotinin poisoning. The consequences may only manifest 30 days after. The Babbitt-Johnson attorneys are currently filing suits against Bayer Pharmaceutical for multiple individuals who have been administered the life threatening drug.
It is imperative to consult a physician as soon as possible. Babbitt-Johnson attorneys, specializing in aprotinin and Trasylol cases, offer free legal consultations and advice on the best legal recourses.
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