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Stroke Awareness & Prevention

Posted on by Western Vascular Institute in ,

Stroke Awareness & Prevention

 

Introduction:

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause brain cells to die, leading to serious and potentially life-threatening consequences. In this blog post, we will explore the causes, symptoms, types, and treatment options available for stroke.

Causes:

Stroke can be caused by a variety of factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and heart disease. Other risk factors include age, family history, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Some strokes occur spontaneously without any apparent cause, while others are the result of a specific event, such as a blood clot or bleeding in the brain.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of stroke can vary depending on the type of stroke and which part of the brain is affected. Some of the most common symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; sudden vision loss in one or both eyes; sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Types:

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot or plaque buildup in an artery blocks blood flow to the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a mini-stroke that occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted. TIAs usually last only a few minutes and do not cause permanent brain damage, but they are a warning sign of a possible future stroke.

Treatment:

A stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial to minimize brain damage and prevent further complications. Treatment options depend on the type of stroke and may include medications to dissolve blood clots or lower blood pressure, surgery to remove blood clots or repair a ruptured blood vessel, and rehabilitation to regain lost functions and prevent future strokes.

Prevention:

Preventing stroke involves making lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and managing conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Regular checkups with a healthcare provider can also help detect and manage risk factors before they lead to a stroke.

Conclusion:

A stroke is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. By understanding the causes, symptoms, types, and treatment options available for stroke, you can take steps to prevent stroke and seek prompt treatment if you or someone you know experiences a stroke. With prompt medical attention and appropriate treatment, many people are able to recover from stroke and regain lost functions, highlighting the importance of awareness and education about this medical condition.

What Causes A Stroke?

Posted on by Western Vascular Institute in , ,

What Causes A Stroke?

 

Type of Stroke:

Ischemic stroke – occurs when blood vessel blockage prevents blood flow to the brain due to a plaque build-up in the carotid arteries.

Hemorrhagic stroke – occurs when the vessel ruptures inside of the brain and bleeds.

Transient Ischemic stroke or TIA – is a temporary blockage or mini-stroke which can cause permanent damage and are a sign of more severe stroke in the future.

Like Peripheral Arterial/Vascular Disease, Carotid Artery Disease is a narrowed blood flow through the vessel. This narrowing or blocked vessel becomes occluded by fatty deposits of plaque built up along the vessel wall leading to atherosclerotic disease. The Carotid artery is the primary source of blood to your brain. Therefore, a narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery is a serious complication and requires thorough and appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Stroke Symptoms:

Many people with Carotid Artery Disease do not experience symptoms even with quite a bit of arterial blockage. Generally, this condition is found after the patient experiences a stroke or by a routine patient examination.

Stroke Causes:

Generally, Carotid Artery Disease is caused by atherosclerosis, where a build-up of plaque in the arteries reduces the flow of blood or blocks the flow entirely. This lack of blood flow and reduced oxygen supply to the brain can lead to stroke.

Stroke Risk Factors include:

Sedentary lifestyle, Overweight obesity, Diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, Family history, high fat diet, and age above 75 are all factors.

Stroke Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of Carotid Artery Disease is generally diagnosed through a physical examination and medical history. Your physician will also most likely be looking for a (bruit) swooshing sound in the carotid artery that is indicative of a narrowed artery. A Carotid Artery duplex ultrasound scan will also be performed to assess the flow of blood through the artery as well as the pressure.

Stroke Treatments:

The reason for the treatment of carotid artery disease is to reduce or mitigate the possibility of stroke.

For mild blockage:

Lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, losing weight, and quitting smoking are all ways that patients themselves can manage the disease and reduce the chance of blockage and stroke.

Medication management:

Medications may be given to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and lower your blood pressure. Additionally, blood thinner medications may be given to prevent blood clots.

Surgical intervention for stroke prevention:

Carotid endarterectomy – generally performed when there is a blockage of 50% or above accompanied by symptoms such as a stroke.

TCAR – Western Vascular Institute is pioneering the use of a breakthrough technology called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) to treat patients with carotid artery disease who are at risk for open surgery. While any repair of the carotid artery carries some risk of causing a stroke because of the repair itself, TCAR was designed to help minimize that risk by keeping potential stroke-causing fragments away from the brain.

Carotid angioplasty/stenting – This procedure is performed to treat narrowed or occluded carotid arteries. In this procedure, the Vascular Surgeon inserts a wire through the groin and guided via X-ray imaging to the carotid artery. Once there, the balloon is placed to expand the narrowed section, and a stent is left in place afterward to maintain the vessel diameter and allow the blood to flow through the artery.

 

What is Carotid Artery Disease?

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What is Carotid Artery Disease? Dr. Dawn Olsen Vascular Surgeon and Kailin George physician liaison discuss the signs, symptoms, causes, & treatments of carotid artery disease. Additionally, as seen below are some photos taken from a recent TCAR or Trans Carotid Artery Revascularization procedure performed by Dr. Dawn Olsen on a patient in the hospital. It can be clearly recognized where the carotid artery had become nearly occluded prior to the procedure and post-procedure including stenting the artery had become nice and open allowing for optimal blood flow to the brain. Also of note is the photo where plaque filtered out through the TCAR device can be seen in abundance.