Recovery treatment after a stroke at home

Acute cerebrovascular accidents are a group of pathological processes united by the mechanism of formation, the clinical picture, partly by examination methods and approaches to diagnosis. However, this is not a homogeneous category of diseases.

A major stroke is the most severe type of pathological process in which death of large areas of the brain occurs. At the same time, this is not an axiom. Variants are possible.

A significant area of ​​damage is indicated not only when a large focus of brain tissue is involved in the pathological process, but also when a large artery is destroyed (hemorrhage), and many small areas of destruction.

This is the essence of pathology. It must be taken into account when analyzing the situation.

The symptoms of the condition are atypical, so not everyone has time to notice the violations. In approximately 20% of cases there is a pronounced period before the onset of the disease-causing condition. It lasts from a couple of minutes to several hours.

In the vast majority of cases, the clinic develops so rapidly that the patient and his environment do not have time to do anything. Death occurs within 1 – 120 minutes or a little more.

Treatment is strictly hospital. In the hospital. Prospects are determined by the size of the lesion, the localization of the disorder, and many other factors. There is a certain amount of luck and chance. It is not always possible to help the patient.

The best option

Some relatives of the patient, on the recommendation of doctors, decide to place the patient in a rehabilitation department. Sometimes this does not happen immediately after hospital treatment. Sometimes recovery takes about three years. Specialists help patients calm down, establish a strong-willed position and the mood for recovery, improve speech, and systematically increase the number of limb movements.

Physiotherapy, massages and healing baths are provided. Psychotherapists regularly monitor the patient. In rehabilitation conditions, some traditional treatment methods are also used: all kinds of tinctures and teas are prepared.

Memory recovery

Those caring for a person who has suffered a stroke should be patient because memory takes a long time to recover. However, regular exercise brings positive results. At the first stage of recovery, a person may not remember his relatives and his own name. This phenomenon is especially common in those who have suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

What exercises will help restore memory:

• Memorizing words.
• Board games.

  
  Board games help rehabilitate the brain after a stroke

• Playing cards with different images. You can look for paired or opposite designs.
• Memorizing short poems.
• Remembering what you have done during the day is considered an effective exercise.

Those patients with whom they communicate regularly have a favorable prognosis for memory. You can show the patient a family album and remind him of relatives, his childhood and various important events.

Treatment at home

But sometimes the patient does not have the opportunity to undergo a rehabilitation course in a sanatorium, then treatment at home is considered. In this case, the following is taken as a basis:

• compliance with the regime;
• organization of proper nutrition;
• taking medications;
• physical education classes;
• limb massage;
• use of traditional medicine.

Compliance with the regime

The patient's regimen will require systematic attention from relatives. The patient should not be alone for a long time. Even if a person speaks poorly after a stroke, you need to talk to him regularly

talk, tell family news. The patient needs positive emotions. Therefore, you can give him the opportunity to listen to his favorite music and watch TV shows. It is important that a person's sleep is not disturbed. Walking plays a special role. If a patient is confined to a wheelchair after a stroke, then the patient needs to be dressed and the room regularly ventilated.

Nutritional Features

When treating stroke at home, doctors recommend following a number of nutritional rules. The patient should:

• exclude fatty and spicy foods;
• limit salt intake;
• drink fruit or berry juices;
• eat at least four hundred grams of fruits and vegetables every day;
• replace fried food with stewed and boiled food;
• eat more dried apricots, raisins, prunes - these foods are rich in potassium;
• add low-fat fermented milk drinks and cottage cheese to your diet;
• consume buckwheat, wheat, and oatmeal porridge daily;
• eat fractionally, up to six times a day, in small portions.

Taking medications

Your local doctor will give you a recommendation on medications to take to treat your stroke. It all depends on the form of circulatory disorder in the brain.

For ischemic stroke, doctors prescribe anticoagulants, drugs that thin the blood. But for hemorrhagic disorders, other medications are needed. It is important to use vascular tonics. Among them are Cavinton and Cinnarizin. To maintain cerebral circulation, vitamins B and C are regularly needed.

To increase the resistance of brain cells to lack of oxygen, it is necessary to take Glycine Forte, Cerebrolysin, Aminalon. Medicines are taken in courses, taking a break or changing them. The main thing is to follow the doctor's recommendations.

Physical activity

In a half-sitting position, you need to perform a number of exercises. For example, bend the paralyzed arm with your healthy arm, then straighten it. Using a long tape, a person needs to lift the sore leg, then bend it at the knee. Then pull your socks towards you.

To develop the hands and feet, make circular movements in different directions. You can practice with a soft ball, the size of which is smaller than your palm. It needs to be squeezed, this will develop muscle strength. Even if the results are not noticeable for a long time, you cannot stop exercising.

Massage helps improve blood circulation to the brain. Therefore, it is indispensable in the treatment of stroke. Massage the collar area and head. The procedure begins with gentle stroking, then you need to press harder on the patient’s body. All movements must be extremely smooth. It is better to use the services of a professional massage therapist.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods against stroke have been known since ancient times. However, their use requires a long period. Traditional healers recommend drinking tincture of peony or wormwood stems in equal portions with honey three times a day. It is prepared as follows. Dry crushed grass (1 tsp) is poured with alcohol (200 ml). They insist for half an hour. Healers are confident that such a remedy will increase a person’s mental abilities.

Sage tea is also beneficial. To prepare it, you need to pour boiling water (300 ml) over the dry plant (1 tbsp). Infuse for half an hour and drink as tea. This remedy is suitable for deafness and speech disorders. It is not used immediately. This remedy should be taken one sip at a time over an hour, taking breaks only to sleep.

To replace sedative medications, healers recommend peeling half a lemon and cutting it finely. Then pour in a hot decoction of pine needles (300 ml) and leave for about ten hours. Store the product exclusively in the refrigerator. Take 1/3 cup before meals twice a day for two weeks.

Signs of a stroke

Insufficient blood circulation in the brain deprives neurons of essential glucose and oxygen. Neurons are transmitters of impulses; therefore, they require a constant supply of energy. Up to 85% of all strokes are ischemic in origin, with the largest proportion attributable to blockage of one or more cerebral arteries by blood clots, resulting in decreased cerebral perfusion. The remaining cases of stroke are hemorrhagic, including intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

A stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. According to the World Health Organization, stroke is characterized by rapidly developing clinical signs of focal impairment of cerebral function with symptoms that last 24 hours or longer, may lead to death, with no apparent cause other than vascular damage.

The range and severity of early stroke symptoms vary widely, but they have one thing in common: they are sudden, ranging from seconds to minutes. In most cases, they do not progress further and depend on the area of ​​the brain affected. The wider the area of ​​brain damage, the more functions may be lost. Some forms of stroke cause additional symptoms. For example, with intracranial hemorrhage, the affected area compresses other structures. Most forms of stroke are not associated with headache, with the exception of subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral vein thrombosis, and sometimes intracerebral hemorrhage.

Symptoms of a stroke:

• dizziness, nausea or vomiting;
• confusion, disorientation, or memory loss;
• loss of balance, ability to walk, coordination on one side of the body: it is difficult to do something familiar (hold a spoon, fasten a button), in rare cases abnormal, spontaneous movements develop;
• numbness of one side of the body or face or complete paralysis: numbness of the face can lead to distortion (asymmetry);
• vision problems: loss of vision in one or both eyes, double vision;
• slurred, incomprehensible speech, difficulty forming words, not understanding what other people say, loss of ability to write.

Most strokes do not cause headaches, but if the headache has a sudden onset, is severe, or is associated with vomiting or decreased consciousness, it may be due to a stroke.

The consequences of a stroke depend primarily on the location of the obstruction and the degree of damage to the brain tissue. One side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body, so a stroke affecting the right side will result in neurological complications on the left side of the body, a stroke on the left side will result in neurological complications on the right side of the body.

Signs and symptoms often appear soon after a stroke. The duration of the symptom depends on the severity of the stroke. When symptoms last less than one or two hours, it is called a transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke.

Even if the physical damage caused by a stroke is not reversed by treatment, the brain can sometimes “rewire” itself and find new ways to move information to restore function. The longer a symptom lasts, the more likely it is to remain permanent. Complications may include pneumonia or loss of bladder control.

Popular folk recipes

When starting treatment with folk remedies, inform your doctor. Modern medicine does not prevent an integrated approach.

Diet, gymnastics, herbal medicine - all this is excellent for restoring or preventing diseases such as stroke or micro-stroke.

However, the doctor will double-check traditional recipes, suggest dosages, and most importantly, help make sure that the patient is not allergic to the components. After all, the main law of any treatment is to do no harm. For the most part, traditional methods are absolutely safe. They have been used by healers for many centuries:

• Wormwood helps restore mental abilities.

A teaspoon of juice mixed with honey is given three times a day before meals. As a preventative measure (for example, to prevent a micro-stroke), only one spoon is drunk per day.

• “Paralysis-grass” quickly gets you back on your feet after a stroke.

This is what people call the white step. The tincture can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home. One tablespoon of chopped herb is poured into two glasses of alcohol and infused for 7 days in a dark place. The strained medicine is added 20 drops per glass of drink twice a day.

• There is an old recipe for recovery after a stroke using peony root. One teaspoon of the plant is poured with one glass of alcohol. It is also used as a tincture of white footfoot.

Psychological rehabilitation

Often after a stroke, the patient withdraws into himself and is unable to live fully. Specialists, relatives, and friends will help the victim to adapt psychologically and recover after a stroke. The patient's behavior and actions will become more controlled, he will begin to perceive the world around him better.

It is important that the patient correctly understands, accepts and manages psychological patterns, prevents depressive states, and is mentally prepared for upcoming problems, then the chances of rehabilitation will increase.

Often, due to depression, mental activity decreases, the patient becomes apathetic, and refuses treatment. In this case, you cannot do without a psychologist; you will probably need antidepressants.

Lemon is a natural antioxidant

An excellent way to prevent stroke using folk remedies is to eat citrus fruits.

Lemon tinctures and pulps help thin the blood

They stimulate the immune system and help thin the blood, which is why they are also used to prevent micro-stroke. Half a lemon is peeled, crushed and poured with warm pine decoction. The resulting homemade medicine is infused in a cool, dark place for several hours, after which it is stored in the refrigerator. Should be taken for two weeks, half a glass before meals (40-60 minutes), twice a day.

Citrus porridge is considered an excellent home remedy. To prepare it, take two lemons and two oranges. The fruits are twisted through a meat grinder.

Add a couple of teaspoons of honey to the paste. The mixture is stored in the refrigerator. Take traditional medicines in the morning, on an empty stomach, before breakfast. If a person who has suffered an ischemic stroke has had any stomach diseases, citrus treatment should be abandoned. This is due to the high acid content in lemons. This is perhaps the only contraindication to this method.

Periods of the disease

The rehabilitation process itself is usually divided into several stages, which differ in time, methods and approximate results. There are acute periods, acute, subacute, early recovery, late recovery and the period of long-term consequences.

The most acute period

The most acute period is the time when the attack itself occurred and development into the acute phase with brain damage began. The process takes from three to ten hours to a day. Accompanied by pronounced symptoms, pain and damage to the left or right hemisphere. It is important to provide assistance immediately after the first manifestations in order to avoid the acute phase.

Acute period

The acute period takes only a few hours, when the stroke has already occurred and affected the nerve cells and neurons of the brain, and doctors have begun to rehabilitate the patient. At this time, it is important to react quickly and relieve general symptoms. If this is not done, brain swelling will occur, coma or death will occur.

Subacute period

If doctors managed to stop the disease and restore the patient’s vital functions, he is sent to the hospital for further treatment. The first three days are considered the most dangerous: they are classified as the subacute period of stroke, when there is a risk of developing a recurrent attack, thrombosis, and even death. If the patient managed to cope with the disease within this time frame, then we can talk about a successful start to rehabilitation and recovery.

Early recovery period

The early recovery period begins in the hospital, when the patient is undergoing hospital therapy, undergoing tests, and undergoing examinations to make a diagnosis. Usually this lasts three weeks, sometimes a month and a half. At this stage, patients are prescribed massage, medication, physiotherapy, diet, reflexology and gymnastics.

Late recovery period

The patient will have to spend the next three to six months at home, in a sanatorium or a special center, where his recovery will continue according to an individual program, according to the diagnosis. Usually it will include the same massage, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, taking medications, gymnasts, exercising on exercise machines, visiting a speech therapist, psychologist or aphasiologist, performing speech exercises, memory training, laser vision correction and swimming in mineral waters.

Physical impairment

After restoration of basic physical, mental and psychological capabilities, the patient can return to normal life, but with the implementation of the rules of prevention. The fact is that even three to four months after treatment, cramps, swelling, problems with vision and memory can be observed. This is a period of long-term effects that lasts another four to six months. But even then, the patient should not refuse to visit a doctor, undergo regular tests, diet, medications and massages.

In this article we will tell you how speech is restored after a stroke.

Recovery after a hemorrhagic stroke can be viewed here https://insult-med.com/posle/vosstanovlenie/gemorragicheskiy-insult-vosstanovlenie.html l

Ancient healer sage

People have long known about the wonderful properties of this plant. Thousands of years ago, healers used the miracle herb to restore speech and hearing, and to treat nervous diseases, including ischemic stroke. The cooking method is very simple.

Sage has been surprising doctors and patients with its healing abilities for many centuries, which is why it is so often used in folk medicine.

Two teaspoons of dry sage leaves are poured into a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. You need to drink one sip every hour. A break is made for 8 hours at night, then soldering with sage continues. And so - 30 days. Our body is able to awaken even after the most difficult cases, be it a micro-stroke or an ischemic stroke. The main thing is to be patient.

The crisis passes faster if you use baths with the addition of sage decoction. For one warm bath you will need 2 liters of decoction. You can repeat the procedure every three days. Breathing exercises during a bath are especially beneficial. You need to inhale deeply and slowly exhale healing fumes.

https://youtu.be/GTxW8YEo688

Recovery in rehabilitation centers

After a hospital stay, the patient is sent home for recovery if all the specifics require only training in previous skills. Also important here is the issue of finding relatives nearby who will themselves carry out the required gymnastics and procedures.

If the patient needs recovery using special techniques, he may be sent to a rehabilitation center after a stroke for bedridden patients . The task of the center staff is to possibly “get the patient out of bed.”

The following procedures are used here:

• motor regimen and expansion of exercise therapy exercises;
• mud therapy and baths with bioactive substances;
• classes with a speech therapist;
• psychological trainings.

If the patient gets back on his feet while still in the hospital, he can also be sent to a sanatorium, where they restore previous functions so that the person can take care of himself.

Here, in addition to the above procedures, classes are conducted in a room equipped with special “simulators” designed to make life after a stroke sparkle with its former colors.

https://youtu.be/BRMDe5N7wQU

Physical recovery

Exercise is very important during the recovery period after a stroke. A set of exercises is usually prescribed by the attending physician, depending on the degree of damage to the victim. Often, patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke have to relearn such simple things as smiling or raising an arm or leg.

The exercises are not difficult. The most important thing is their regularity. Charging should be done two to three times a day. A session may consist of a massage of the affected areas, as well as a set of exercises:

• for limbs;
• to restore vision;
• respiratory

It is imperative to pay attention to exercises aimed at restoring memory or mental abilities.

After all, they could have been affected by an ischemic stroke. You need to start with simple activities, for example, listing words starting with the same letter, gradually complicating the tasks.

More about types of stroke

Today, doctors distinguish three main types of stroke. The life expectancy after a stroke and the possibility of maximum recovery after an attack depend on the type. Types of stroke directly depend on the nature of damage to blood vessels and brain cells, namely:

Subarachnoid stroke. The causes of this form of pathology lie in traumatic brain injury or rupture of an aneurysm. The hemorrhage in this case is localized between the soft and arachnoid membranes of the brain. The mortality rate from this form of pathology is quite high and reaches 50%. However, this type of pathology is quite rare. Complications after it are the most severe. Develops immediately or within a few hours after injury.

Hemorrhagic stroke. The causes of this form of stroke are rupture of a vessel and hemorrhage in the brain. The mortality rate from such attacks reaches 33%. However, the degree of disability is very high. In this case, the hemorrhage and subsequent hematoma are localized in the ventricles and under the membranes of the brain.

An attack of this type develops rapidly and the patient may fall into a coma within a few minutes after feeling unwell.

Ischemic stroke. An attack develops from a narrowing or blockage of a vessel. The causes of vasoconstriction vary from atherosclerosis to nervous tension. This is the most common form of stroke. The mortality rate from it reaches 15%. With timely hospitalization, patients most often have a positive prognosis for recovery. The attack may develop over several days.

In addition, doctors distinguish an acute type of pathology, microstroke, extensive or spinal stroke. All these forms differ in the degree of damage and localization. Forecasts for each individual case are purely individual.

Nutrition after stroke

Treatment of stroke at home necessarily includes diets. A correct diet can not only restore a person after a crisis, but also prevent an ischemic relapse. Dietary nutrition is also recommended for people who have had a mini-stroke.

To prevent cardiovascular diseases you need to drink a lot

Basic rules of nutrition after a stroke:

• Drink plenty of liquids: reading water, herbal infusions, juices.
• The first time - no salt.
• Products containing potassium are required.
• Lots of vegetables and fruits.
• Avoid fatty, fried, cholesterol-containing foods, coffee, and soda.

It is recommended to eat food frequently, but in small portions. Optimally – five times a day. Do not under any circumstances overeat!

Recovering from a stroke at home is a process that requires patience from loved ones and the person recovering. But often, if you follow a diet and do regular exercises, treatment with folk remedies turns out to be very effective. It is only important to follow the doctor’s recommendations in everything.

https://youtu.be/J_R71rRxK8U

Originally posted 2014-10-27 20:40:33.

Rehabilitation after a stroke at home and treatment with folk remedies.

Let's imagine a situation where a patient with a stroke is discharged home from the hospital. Medical care was provided in accordance with standards. But the patient still has symptoms of cerebral insufficiency: lack of movement and sensitivity of the limbs on one side, dizziness and headaches, unstable blood pressure, and possible dysfunction of the pelvic organs. Some patients remain depressed and have impaired memory. And those who understand everything think with horror about staying at home, they are convinced that they now need constant care.

The doctor explains to the patient and relatives that treatment for stroke at home will continue, and recommends diet and medications. Further observation after a stroke is carried out by a local doctor in consultation with a neurologist.

Diagnostics

It is carried out in the hospital, but after the fact, when the person’s condition has stabilized.

At the initial stage there is no time for long reflection. Only vital indicators are assessed: blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory movements, simple reflexes and reactions (pupil to light, tendon), after which measures are taken to relieve the emergency condition.

If necessary, the patient is connected to a ventilator. At the end of the critical phase (it must be said that “luck smiles” on not every patient, of all, only 20% of patients survive, only 5% come to their senses), two points need to be identified.

The first is what caused the massive brain stroke. Answering this question will help prevent relapse. The second is what are the consequences of the hemorrhage and whether surgical treatment is required.

For these purposes, the following activities are prescribed:

• Anamnesis collection. If the patient himself is unable to speak, his relatives and close people are invited for a conversation. It is important to establish lifestyle, somatic pathologies current or already in the past, family history, and other points.
• Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. If the central subcortical structures (brain stem and surrounding tissues) are not affected, the indicators will be normal or slightly below adequate levels.

• MRI. Tomography is used to visualize cerebral tissue. Today this is the most informative technique. Allows you to detect a lesion, estimate its size, and determine the need for surgery. If it exists, develop a method for accessing the brain.
• Electroencephalography. To identify functional disorders of the nervous system. Wave activity in the affected area will be below normal. How much depends on the safety of neurons.
• General and biochemical blood test. Used to determine the concentration of lipids in the bloodstream. “Good” and “bad” cholesterol (high and low density lipoproteins, respectively) are examined. This is necessary to diagnose possible atherosclerosis.
• Duplex scanning and Dopplerography of the vessels of the neck and brain are required to identify the nature of the blood flow at the moment.

This is an average list of techniques. At the discretion of the doctor, it can be expanded or narrowed.

The pathological process is quite typical from the point of view of the clinical picture. Therefore, the initial examination does not present any problems.

There are indications of an extensive stroke: pronounced neurological deficit symptoms, deep coma with the absence of many basic reflexes, preservation of polymorphic organic and functional disorders of higher nervous activity even after stabilization of the condition, when the patient comes to his senses.

The best option

The right decision is made by those who try to place the patient in the rehabilitation department. This is not possible immediately after hospitalization. The restoration process takes at least three years. Service specialists help patients calm down and gather the will to gradually practice. Rehabilitation methods can improve speech and gradually increase the range of movements in the limbs.

Physiotherapy, exercise therapy in a group, massage, baths have a good effect. The department employs psychotherapists who help patients set themselves up for recovery.

Treatment of stroke with folk remedies is also used in rehabilitation institutions: herbal teas and tinctures are prepared.

Speech restoration

After stabilization of the patient's general condition, it is necessary to immediately begin recovery after the stroke. Speech is gradually stabilizing. After partial or complete restoration of the affected cells to normal functioning, the patient begins to pronounce individual sounds, which are converted into words. It is necessary to constantly talk with the patient - hearing training speeds up the recovery process.

Active development of the speech center is carried out using a number of exercises. The patient should regularly extend his tongue, alternately bite the lower and upper lips, move the lower jaw, stretch out his lips in a “tube” and expose his teeth. With a complete loss of speech, at the initial stage the patient is taught to pronounce individual letters and syllables. The consultant is told part of the word, and he chooses the ending on his own. The volume of words reproduced increases - a person puts words into sentences, repeats tongue twisters and poems.

At the initial stage of the recovery period, the patient should try to play simple songs. Singing trains your hearing and helps restore memory.

Important information: How to treat cerebral stroke with folk remedies and what are the most effective herbs

Recommendations for the regimen

The patient's regimen requires the attention of relatives.

• The patient should not be alone for a long time.
• Even if he speaks poorly, you need to talk and talk about family news.
• The patient really needs positive emotions. You can listen to your favorite music and watch TV shows.
• It is necessary to ensure that the sleep of a person who has suffered a stroke is not disturbed.
• If it is impossible to walk in a stroller, you need to dress the patient and ventilate the room.

Difficulties in recovery after a stroke

The most difficult stage of recovery lasts the first 6 months. Relatives of patients turn to paid recovery clinics because they are afraid of harming a loved one. To provide proper care, you need to know the specifics of the disease, how and in which specific part of the brain the hemorrhage occurred. In addition, patience and stress resistance are required.

If the patient and his family have a strong desire to restore health and return to their previous life as soon as possible, then a more favorable outcome is likely.

In order to endure a difficult period, the help of a psychologist is necessary, both for the person who has suffered a stroke and for those who care for him. In 90% of cases, patients become withdrawn and develop depression. The person considers himself inferior and also a burden to relatives.

Suicide attempts have been recorded among people who have suffered a stroke.

Nutrition rules

Treatment of stroke at home requires compliance with certain dietary rules:

• exclude all spicy and fatty foods;
• sharply limit salt intake;
• Agree on the amount of liquid with your doctor (berry and fruit juices are useful, but not carbonated drinks and coffee);
• you need to eat at least 400 g of vegetables and fruits;
• replace fried food with boiled or stewed food;
• you need foods rich in potassium (dried apricots, raisins, apricot juice, prunes, boiled jacket potatoes);
• low-fat fermented milk drinks without sugar and cottage cheese are required;
• include porridges cooked in water (buckwheat, oatmeal, wheat) into your diet;
• eat small portions, but 6 times a day, do not overeat.

Main stages of recovery

Stroke is a process of disruption of blood supply to the brain due to blockage or rupture of a vessel.

As a result of impaired blood circulation, cell damage occurs in the form of lack of nutrition, which causes partial death of parts of the brain due to lack of oxygen supply. Such dying off leads to disruption of the functioning of human internal organs, loss of important functions and long-term rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation after a cerebral stroke includes the following stages:

• drug treatment and restoration of previous motor functions;
• psychotherapeutic assistance – it is important for a person to explain what happened to him, to show his concern and to prepare for the restoration of lost functions;
• if necessary, the patient is socialized - placement in a special center or training at home (it is better when the patient is with his family and extended family);
• restoration of previous skills.

As follows from the above, restoration of previous skills in the form of motor functions should come last. This requires a lot of work and effort from the patient himself, who must be mentally and physically prepared to “work on himself.”

https://youtu.be/w4R049eJ6g0

What medications to take

Your local doctor will give you a detailed recommendation on this matter. Typically, there is still a difference in treatment, depending on the form of the cerebrovascular accident suffered.

• Cause an increase in vascular tone: Cinnarizine, Cavinton.
• Vitamins C, group B, and Ascorutin strengthen cerebral circulation.
• The doctor must prescribe something from the group of drugs that increase the resistance of brain cells to oxygen deficiency (Aminalon, Cerebrolysin, Glycine forte).

Medicines for stroke

The drugs used to treat stroke usually work differently. Some actually break up existing blood clots. Others help prevent blood clots from forming in blood vessels, regulate high blood pressure and cholesterol levels to help prevent blockages in blood flow. The medications your doctor prescribes depend on the type of stroke and its cause. They are also used to prevent another stroke or heart attack.

1. Depending on the cause of the ischemic stroke, aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticlopidine, sometimes in combination, may be recommended. Antiplatelet drugs prevent platelet aggregation. Although antiplatelet therapy has many potential benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. For people with a history of liver or kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease or peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, or asthma, aspirin is contraindicated.

2. For cardioembolic stroke (caused by a clot formed in the heart that then travels to the brain) due to atrial fibrillation (a condition that increases the risk of stroke five times) in the heart valve, anticoagulants are prescribed. They do not dissolve clots, but they help prevent blood from clotting, keep existing clots from getting bigger and causing a second hit:

• First generation anticoagulant drugs (heparin and warfarin) affect the production of clotting factors that are produced in the liver. This means regularly monitoring the extent of the impact on the liver through blood tests;
• Newer generation anticoagulants, sometimes called direct oral anticoagulants (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, and dabigatran), are easier to use and do not require frequent blood tests.

3. Some patients are offered a combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy, depending on their health profile and risk factors.
Although all strokes are unique, secondary prevention must be tailored to each patient. 4. Statins work in the liver to prevent cholesterol formation. The drugs block an enzyme that is needed to make cholesterol, which reduces its production. This helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and prevent heart attacks caused by clogged arteries.

5. After a stroke, neurochemical changes may occur that cause depression. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor prescribed for depression, has demonstrated that it is also useful for motor recovery.

It is very important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change the method of administration without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be minimized if medications are taken at specific times of day, on an empty stomach or with food, especially since they are all absorbed differently.

Physical activity

The exercises are performed in a half-sitting position in bed.

For residual movements in the limbs, their strength should be developed with the help of the healthy half of the body.

1. The healthy hand needs to bend and straighten the paralyzed one.
2. Using a long tape, you can lift your sore leg, bend it at the knee, pull your socks towards you and vice versa.
3. Small movements with the hands and feet are made in one direction or the other.
4. It is recommended to practice with a soft ball smaller than your palm. Learn to squeeze it, developing muscle strength.

You should not quit classes even if there are no visible quick results.

Speech and memory training

Even if the patient studies with a speech therapist for a long time, his speech may not be fully restored, even for several months or years. In 30 or 35% of cases, speech will be restored faster.

To restore speech function, the patient must always listen to sounds, individual words, phrases, and sentences. First you need to learn to pronounce individual sounds, then move on to syllables, pronounce simple, complicated words, phrases, sentences, poems. First, the patient is helped to pronounce the first part of the word, and he pronounces the second half himself.

The patient needs to listen to music and songs. Sometimes he is not able to speak, but he can sing. Singing will help restore speech function.

Facial muscles are restored with exercises in front of a mirror:

1. teeth are bared;
2. the lips curl and stretch into a tube;
3. the mouth opens, the tongue extends forward;
4. the upper and lower lips are bitten in turn;
5. the tongue licks the lips to the right and left;
6. The corners of the mouth are pulled up and a smile is performed.

Mental abilities need to be restored in the hospital, when general health has stabilized. But there is no need to be mentally overloaded; the brain is not ready for overload.

To restore the patient’s memory, drug therapy with Thiocetam, Actovegin, Piracetam, Cavinton, Cortexin is used. The results of these drugs will appear slowly, after 3 or 6 months. The treatment course is repeated after 2 or 3 months.

The patient’s memory will be restored faster if visual and auditory functions are not impaired and the person behaves adequately. To remember better, you need to listen and repeat numbers, words, poems. First you need to train your short-term memory. A person repeats immediately heard information, gradually learns to pronounce numbers and count.

It is necessary for the patient to look at images, videos and pronounce what he sees in the picture in the movie. Memory and intelligence are developed by board games.

How to massage

In case of the consequences of an ischemic stroke, massage is used to improve blood supply to the brain. A massage of the head and collar area is performed. The specialist always starts with light stroking, then presses more firmly on the patient's body. All movements should be smooth, directed from the periphery to the head.

In case of hemorrhagic stroke, massage is contraindicated for a long time. Paralyzed limbs are also massaged from bottom to top.

The face is massaged along the points and lines corresponding to the lymphatic vessels - from the middle to the temples.

It is best to hire a massage therapist twice a year. Then you will be sure that everything was done correctly.

Drugs

Rehabilitation of post-stroke patients is accompanied by medication. The following groups of drugs will help patients who have suffered a stroke recover:

• Sedatives. During the rehabilitation period, the patient is prescribed Magnesia. The antihypertensive drug is administered intravenously. The drug helps keep blood pressure normal. Magnesia is administered in combination with Diazepam.
• Anticonvulsants. Piracetam (Nootropil), when administered intravenously or intramuscularly, reduces the risk of developing cerebral hypoxia and normalizes blood microcirculation in the affected area.
• Vasodilators. Medicines that increase the lumen of blood vessels reduce vascular resistance. With regular use, blood flow is normalized. Such drugs include Curantil and Aspirin.

Important information: How long do they live after extensive ischemic (hemorrhagic) stroke of the right hemisphere of the brain (right side) and forecasts of consequences

Medication support for the body speeds up recovery. The drugs are selected by a doctor, self-medication is excluded.

Will folk remedies help?

Traditional methods of treating stroke have been known for a long time. When using them, you need to tune in for a long period.

There is an old folk method for regaining memory. To do this, you need to drink a teaspoon of tincture of wormwood or peony stems three times a day in half with honey. Tinctures are prepared at the rate of a spoonful of crushed dry herbs per 200 ml of alcohol. Healers consider these remedies to be true ways to increase mental abilities.

Sage tea (a tablespoon per glass of boiling water) is infused for half an hour; it helps with speech disorders and deafness. It is not taken immediately, but one sip every hour with a break for night sleep.

Sage is added to the bath; the smell has a beneficial effect when inhaled.

Not only a popular recipe (honey + garlic + lemon) is prepared from lemon, but also lesser-known remedies for the treatment and prevention of stroke:

1. Peel half the lemon, chop finely, pour warm decoction of pine needles. Leave for at least 10 hours. Keep refrigerated. It is recommended to take 1/3 cup 40 minutes before meals twice a day for a course of 2 weeks.
2. Lemon-orange porridge is made from two lemons and oranges. They are twisted together with the peel in a meat grinder, a couple of spoons of honey are added. Take this folk remedy for stroke only in the morning before breakfast, a teaspoon.

People with stomach problems should avoid such treatment.

Movement restoration

To relieve paralysis, it is recommended to prepare an ointment from bay leaves: bay leaves are ground in a mortar with pine needles, then melted butter is added to the powder and mixed well. This composition should be rubbed on the affected limbs and face (for numbness).

Bay leaf oil: pour a pack of crushed leaves with a glass of vegetable oil, leave, shaking occasionally, for at least two months. After straining, it is brought to a boil. After which it is used for rubbing into paralyzed limbs.

For ischemic stroke

Traditional treatment for ischemic stroke recommends including at least three bananas per day in your diet.

Pine cone tincture is prepared from young cones with seeds collected in advance. Grind well. Pour the powder from 5 cones into a glass of vodka. Leave for 2 weeks, shake often. Strain through cheesecloth. Take a teaspoon three times a day after meals.

For hemorrhagic stroke

In the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke, baths with rosehip decoction are used. But the decoction is prepared not from the usual berries, but from the roots. Take baths every other day for two months.

It is recommended to eat black elderberries internally or add them to tea.

For the treatment of dizziness during the recovery period

To get rid of dizziness, traditional medicine recommends preparing a decoction from a combination of plants:

• motherwort,
• hawthorn fruits,
• rose hips,
• meadowsweet.

Mix a tablespoon of each plant and brew with a liter of boiling water. Leave for at least a day. Take ¼ cup before meals.

Therapy for recovery after a stroke at home:

• Medical care: monitoring health status, treating underlying diseases and risk factors for recurrent stroke.
• Care: support in daily life (nutrition, body care, sleep, restoration of movements).
• Physiotherapy: physical therapy, strength and coordination training, walking and wheelchair training
• Occupational Therapy: Practices activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, grooming, shopping, housekeeping, proper use of aids.
• Speech therapy: speech, voice training, training for swallowing disorders, reading and writing practice.
• Neuropsychology: explanation of perceptual and memory disorders, memory training, perception and concentration.
• Dietary recommendations: information on a balanced diet, clarification of special nutritional needs.
• Creative therapy: making music, painting, ceramics or weaving to promote practical skills, concentration and relaxation (choose one direction as desired).
• Psychiatric treatment and psychological counseling: assistance and care for mental disorders and complaints, observation by a doctor.
• Social counseling: advice and support on social, insurance and financial issues.

Treatment of cerebral stroke - medication or surgery

After symptoms appear, the patient is immediately hospitalized.

The first days he is kept in the intensive care unit, because... there is a high probability of the condition worsening.

At this time, the following procedures are carried out:

• A damaged area of ​​the brain is identified. After this, either an operation is performed to remove the hematoma (hemorrhagic stroke), or special drugs are administered to resolve the blood clot (ischemic).
• All functions necessary for life are under constant control.
• With the help of medications, blood viscosity is reduced and cerebral edema is relieved.
• Cortexin, Cerebrolysin, and nootropics are introduced to accelerate the regenerative processes of brain tissue.

When the patient's condition improves, he is transferred to a hospital. Here medications are prescribed to prevent a relapse and possible complications. The patient is under constant medical supervision.

In addition to medications, the patient needs constant care. This includes feeding, keeping the bed clean and dry, and treating the skin with camphor alcohol.

In addition, the patient must be turned from side to side every few hours to avoid lung congestion and bedsores.

Treatment methods for ischemic stroke

One of the most effective and modern methods is thrombolytic therapy. The main and most important condition for using this method is admission to the neurological department earlier than 3 hours from the onset of the first symptoms!

Thrombolysis is based on the fact that a drug (thrombolytic) is administered intravenously to the patient, which instantly begins to dissolve the formed blood clot in the vessel that has blocked it. As a result, normal blood flow in the arteries of the brain is restored. The effect is often felt, as they say, “on the needle,” during the first minutes and even seconds of drug administration.

Using the method later than 3 hours from the onset of an ischemic stroke is pointless, since irreversible changes have already occurred in the brain and dissolving the blood clot will not have any positive effect. Therefore, it is especially important to contact an ambulance at the first signs of a stroke, otherwise you may not have time to get into this “therapeutic window”. It should be remembered that in the hospital, before starting thrombolytic therapy, the patient must be carefully examined, a series of tests must be performed, and hemorrhagic stroke must be ruled out, and this also takes a lot of time.

This method has a number of contraindications, the presence of which is determined by the doctor before choosing treatment tactics.

A very important aspect when choosing a treatment method is the differentiation of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. CT or MRI can best help with this; only these research methods provide accurate data on the type of stroke. In his absence in the hospital, the doctor will evaluate a number of clinical syndromes, the development of the disease, and may use a number of other diagnostic methods, for example, lumbar puncture, to accurately establish the diagnosis.

Thrombolysis is carried out only if it is established with 100% probability that this is an ischemic stroke, otherwise the administration of a thrombolytic will lead to death. Since a hemorrhagic stroke causes bleeding in the brain, and “thinning” the blood with a thrombolytic will cause severe bleeding and an increase in the resulting hematoma.

If thrombolysis is not possible, treatment is carried out using standard methods:

• lowering blood pressure
• antiplatelet agents (aspirin preparations) or anticoagulants (heparin, fraxiparin, clexane),
• drugs that improve cerebral blood flow (cavinton, piracetam, trental)
• B vitamins
• restorative treatment methods
• prevention of bedsores
• control of blood pressure and excretory functions
• Among folk remedies one can highlight the use of pine cones for stroke

as a preventive measure or during the recovery period

You cannot self-medicate, since to choose a treatment method you need to know exactly the type of stroke; clinically they do not differ. While at home, a person cannot determine whether he has a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, so self-administration of drugs can lead not only to worsening of the condition, but also to death.

Right-sided disturbance of blood flow in the brain

With a stroke, complications do not always appear. It all depends on the magnitude of the disorder and the type of lesion itself. With extensive right-sided lesions, problems with movement arise: persistent paresis, paralysis, disturbances of sensitivity and muscle tone. Hemorrhage into the right hemisphere causes left-sided hemiparesis. In this case, a persistent violation of muscle tone of the spastic type occurs. As a result, contractures are formed, sensitivity and eye movement are impaired (the head and eyes are turned to the left). During an attack of asphyxia, a tracheostomy is used.

Hemorrhagic intracerebral stroke, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, is characterized by a general cerebral clinical picture. Meningeal signs with episodes of loss of consciousness and cerebral coma are pronounced. Often there is severe pain in the head, attacks of dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, and falls.

Consequences of right-sided hemorrhagic stroke:

• left-sided hemiparesis;
• muscle spasms;
• sensory disturbance;
• significant dizziness in the head;
• vestibular disorders;
• blindness;
• marked decrease in visual acuity;
• ignoring the left half-space;
• left-sided diplopia;
• central pain syndrome;
• neuropsychiatric disorders;
• persistent sleep disturbances;
• problems with swallowing, sometimes the tongue sinks.

Recovery after a hemorrhagic stroke is somewhat difficult. Such patients are paralyzed, have bedsores, and septic ailments (pneumonia, damage to the genitourinary tract). Complex arthropathy, spastic contractures, and sometimes hydrocephalus are observed. Such conditions prolong the patient’s healing and provoke depression and chronic stress. This may cause relapses of the disease.

What does ischemia lead to?

Ischemic stroke develops more slowly, with a slight increase and subsequent regression of symptoms. With this type of stroke without paralysis, rapid healing and return to a full life are possible.

More severe cases of the disease leave behind formidable complications:

• paresis, paralysis of the left half of the body (the tongue may sink);
• urinary disorders after stroke;
• disturbance of perception and sensation;
• loss of memory for current events;
• ignoring the left half of the space;
• cognitive disorders;
• violations of the emotional-volitional plan.

After an ischemic stroke of the right hemisphere, pathological syndromes occur with the appearance of depressive states and behavioral disorders. Patients become untied, disinhibited, and do not feel tact and moderation. They are characterized by a certain foolishness, a penchant for flat jokes. The presence of such disorders of the emotional-volitional sphere significantly lengthens and complicates healing. Patients do not perceive reality objectively, therefore they require consultation with a psychiatrist.

Perinatal conditions

Cerebrovascular pathology, including hemorrhage, affects children of perinatal age. In older children and adolescents, the disease is diagnosed less frequently. Cerebral strokes develop with vascular malformations and cerebral aneurysms. Vasculitis, various angiopathy, severe damage to the heart and blood vessels (defects, arrhythmias, blockades, endocarditis) can provoke hemorrhage.

https://youtu.be/vwu55sywJ-U

It has been proven that perinatal hemorrhage occurs due to traumatic injury to the skull. It develops against the background of the following phenomena:

• discrepancy between the size of the fetus and the birth canal;
• rapid labor activity;
• severe cervical rigidity;
• use of a vacuum extractor.

Prematurity is considered an important predisposing factor in the development of the disease. An unformed skull is too flexible and soft, and therefore increases the risk of stroke. What are the consequences of perinatal right hemisphere strokes?

The clinic of intraventricular strokes has several variants of the course. Complications and consequences of cerebral stroke depend on the massiveness of the hemorrhage, the degree of hydrocephalus, the severity of focal disorders and the severity of concomitant pathology. Often after perinatal strokes, cerebral palsy of varying severity, visual impairment (strabismus, amblyopia) and cognitive function occur.

Complications after a stroke of ischemic origin are caused by the “hypoxia-ischemia” syndrome. Movement disorders, some brain dysfunction, and mental retardation develop. Increasingly, after ischemia, a single epileptic seizure is observed in children.

Main complications and consequences

The number of complications depends on the degree of brain damage. The most common consequences of a stroke:

• soporous state (depressed consciousness);
• convulsions;
• paralysis;
• amnesia;
• cerebral edema;
• motor impairment;
• peripheral neuropathy;
• psychosis;
• aphasia;
• cerebral hemorrhage;
• headache;
• coma.

Soporous state

When studying the dangers of a stroke, we must not forget about soporosis - a deeply depressed consciousness. This condition occurs after a stroke (especially hemorrhagic), including during rehabilitation. It develops against the background of complications, mechanical injuries, viral and infectious diseases, drug overdose (especially sedatives), toxic blood damage, metabolic disorders, etc.

Symptoms of the soporous state are:

• psychological depression;
• decreased sensitivity;
• weak reaction of the pupils to light.

If left untreated, stupor can progress to coma. In this case, 2 options for the development of the event are possible: restoration of consciousness or death.

Brain swelling

Effects of a stroke include cerebral edema, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the tissues of nerve cells. This complication develops rapidly and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Strong headache;
• dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• numbness of the neck;
• violation of orientation in space;
• lack of rhythmic breathing;
• amnesia;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• convulsive muscle twitching;
• disruption of the senses;
• slurred speech.

There are 2 mechanisms for the development of cerebral edema after an attack:

1. Damage to the capillaries leads to disruption of the outflow of blood and other fluids that accumulate in the intercellular space.
2. A deficiency of oxygen and ATP disrupts the functioning of membrane pumps; a large number of sodium ions penetrate into the cell, causing the accumulation of water.

Cerebral edema, like any other complication, requires therapy. If you ignore the problem, circulatory problems will occur (including tissue death and death).

Convulsions

A stroke negatively affects the condition of the entire body, so after it complications arise from various systems. Patients experiencing this disease may experience generalized seizures - contractions of muscles located in different parts of the body.

Important information: What are the prognosis and chances of surviving after a third stroke?

Seizures may manifest themselves in the following ways:

• contraction of the muscles of the face and/or neck;
• severe numbness of the limbs.

In most cases, the attacks end the same way: the patient falls asleep or loses consciousness. The reason for this phenomenon is the shock state of the brain.

Dangerous consequences of convulsive syndrome:

1. Coma. Seizures can provoke short-term or long-term loss of consciousness. With intense convulsions, the patient may fall into a coma.
2. Disability. The presence of constant seizures that are difficult to treat indicates extensive brain damage - the main cause of disability.
3. Development of recurrent stroke. Relapse of the disease can be fatal.
4. Death. Frequent cramps may be a symptom of internal bleeding that cannot be treated.

Headache

Severe, paroxysmal headaches are the main consequence of a stroke. They often develop within 3 months from the onset of the disease.

Post-stroke headaches occur in the presence of the following risk factors:

• female;
• young age;
• low blood pressure;
• previously diagnosed neurological diseases.

To eliminate this symptom, different groups of medications are used:

• painkillers (Baralgin, Spazmalgon);
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ketorolac, Ibuprofen);
• caffeine-containing medications (Citramon).

Memory loss

One of the consequences of a brain stroke is memory loss. Amnesia occurs when areas of the brain responsible for long-term and/or short-term memory are damaged.

There are 3 types of post-stroke amnesia:

1. Visual. The patient cannot remember what he saw before. This includes familiar objects, images, shapes, and the faces of friends and relatives.
2. Verbal. The patient forgets the names of loved ones, the names of objects and personal belongings. Also, the names of phenomena associated with his current environment (for example, the names of medical personnel) are not retained in memory.
3. Vascular dementia. Characterized by weakening of mental functions.

To restore memory use:

• visual images, associative thinking;
• games, puzzles;
• repetition and consolidation of what has been learned.

Paralysis

If we talk about a cerebral stroke, the consequences of which can be unpredictable, we need to talk about paralysis - a condition in which the patient loses the ability to contract muscles and move limbs. Paralysis can be left- or right-sided (depending on which part of the brain is damaged).

A stroke is characterized by the development of central paralysis (with damage to the motor pathway), the features of which are:

• muscle hypotonia, followed by hypertonicity (spastic form);
• absence of muscle atrophy;
• strengthening reflexes.

Coma

Coma due to stroke is considered one of the most severe complications. This condition is characterized by:

• prolonged loss of consciousness;
• lack of response to external stimuli;
• slowing down metabolism;
• changes in body temperature and breathing pattern;
• disturbance of vascular tone;
• spontaneous urination and defecation.

With the help of coma, the body protects nerve cells from the effects of damaging factors.

Coma develops lightning fast or gradually. In the first case, a sudden loss of consciousness occurs, and problems with the heart and breathing occur. In the second case, symptoms develop over several hours. At the same time, the pulse changes, coordination of movements is disturbed, the body goes numb, the limbs cease to obey, the consciousness “floats away”. The patient yawns frequently and his breathing becomes shallow.

There are 4 degrees of coma after a stroke:

1. First. It is characterized by minor brain damage, preservation of reflex functions, lethargy or complete loss of consciousness. The prognosis is encouraging.
2. Second. Convulsions and noisy intermittent breathing occur. The patient is unconscious and does not respond to external stimuli (light, sound, pain, etc.). There are no skin reflexes.
3. Third. There is no consciousness. Body temperature drops and blood pressure drops.
4. Fourth. Characterized by severe brain damage. Considered incompatible with life.

Important information: What to do when you feel dizzy after an ischemic stroke and how to get rid of dizziness

It is impossible to determine how long the coma will last. The only thing the patient’s relatives can do is to completely trust the medical staff. The prognosis depends on the duration and degree of the coma (the longer the patient is unconscious, the higher the likelihood of death).

Brain hemorrhage

The consequences of stroke in men and women include cerebral hemorrhage, which occurs in the hemorrhagic form of the disease.

Factors that provoke hemorrhage:

• increased blood pressure;
• cerebral aneurysm;
• diabetes;
• alcohol abuse;
• hemorrhagic vasculitis, etc.

Motor impairment

One of the consequences of a stroke in the legs is impaired motor skills. Loss of motor activity can be complete (paralysis) or partial (paresis). Both conditions follow the same development path. The only difference is the degree of damage to the nerve fibers.

The following manifestations are typical for motor skills disorders:

• restriction of movements in joints;
• loss of coordination caused by pain or swelling;
• decreased muscle strength and endurance;
• loss of sensitivity.

Aphasia

Aphasia is a consequence of a brain stroke, characterized by loss of the ability to speak (partial or complete). Most often, this complication occurs when the left side of the brain is affected.

Aphasia is accompanied by disruption of processes associated with speech function. These include:

• reading;
• letter;
• ability to listen and speak.

Restoring normal speech is impossible without the participation of a speech therapist. You need to start classes after the patient’s condition has normalized, that is, during the first weeks after the attack. Training begins with the basics, because the patient resembles a child who has to learn to speak, read and write again.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nervous system, a collection of nerve fibers that transmit information from the brain to various parts of the body. This complication occurs equally in male and female bodies. Its symptoms are:

• local pain;
• tingling and burning sensation;
• numbness of individual parts of the body;
• redness and swelling at the site of innervation of the affected nerve;
• decreased strength, muscle atrophy.

In peripheral neuropathy, motor or sensory nerve fibers may be affected. It depends on in which part of the brain the vascular accident occurred.

Psychosis

Among the consequences of a stroke in women and men, it is worth highlighting psychosis - a condition characterized by a violation of the perception of reality. This disorder develops slowly and progresses unnoticed. The following symptoms indicate the development of psychosis:

• hallucinations (visual, auditory);
• Bad mood;
• staying in one position for a long time;
• aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety;
• delusional statements;
• attempts to commit suicide;
• pathological sociability;
• overeating leading to obesity;
• excessive fatigue;
• persistent memory loss, etc.

https://youtu.be/QWZsjpa07SE

If left untreated, complications of stroke can lead to the development of other diseases and death. If any unusual symptoms appear, you should contact your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

First aid

Ischemic stroke - first aid

To provide first aid, it is necessary to know the initial symptoms of the disease, because not only a person’s health, but also a person’s life depends on the correct actions in the first minutes of a stroke. If a person feels unwell, a stroke can be suspected based on the following signs:

Facial asymmetry; Speech impairment; If you ask a person to raise both hands, he cannot do this.

First aid:

• Place the patient to bed and ensure rest;
• Provide a flow of fresh air;
• Monitor your breathing status;
• Prevent tongue sinking;
• Monitor your blood pressure;
• Do not let the patient lose consciousness.

Prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke

If the patient has already suffered an ischemic stroke, then in addition to the prevention methods listed above, the following are also vital for him:

• Taking antiplatelet agents (aspirin) for life!!! These include: Thrombo ass, Cardiomagnyl and others (see all about cholesterol pills)
• If there is concomitant atrial fibrillation, warfarin is prescribed; in this case, it is necessary to regularly monitor the INR and maintain it at the target level! Only a doctor should adjust the dose of this drug! An independent, even minor, change in the dose of warfarin can lead to tragic consequences!
• Taking statins and cholesterol-lowering drugs for life! Skipping the drug reduces all previous efforts to zero! These include: Atoris, Liprimar, Zocor, Mertinil and others.

Attention! The medications listed in the article are not prescribed and taking them without consulting your doctor is prohibited!

Author:

Revus Olesya Grigorievna, neurologist

Medical indications

What is a stroke? This is a severe disruption of blood flow in the brain. The main consequences of the disease include:

• stunning or complete loss of consciousness;
• involuntary bowel movement;
• respiratory arrest;
• urinary incontinence after stroke;
• violation of the frequency, rhythm and depth of breathing;
• tachycardia, hypotension;
• heart failure;
• painful cough after a stroke.

It has been proven that the frequency of episodes of the disease increases with age. Persons with a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle are prone to strokes. They rapidly develop global or focal disorders of the brain.

The pathology is accompanied by vivid symptoms:

• pronounced facial asymmetry;
• slurred speech or its complete absence;
• misunderstanding of spoken speech;
• severe visual impairment;
• an epileptic attack may develop;
• paresis or paralysis of the limbs (often unilateral);
• increased tone of striated muscles.

Doctors distinguish 2 subtypes of the disease: hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Ischemia is caused by blockage of a cerebral artery by a thrombus. Persons with atherosclerosis and hypertension are more susceptible to developing the disease. The attack leaves a significant impact on the patient: the physical and emotional state changes radically, and behavioral characteristics appear.

Another reason for the development of the disease is a violation of blood flow to certain areas due to a ruptured blood vessel. This occurs due to sudden fluctuations in pressure. For the body, even a moderate stroke is severe stress, a crushing blow to the nervous system. A person loses control over his body. This provokes strong anger, irritation, tearfulness, and aggression. Therefore, the care of loved ones often causes strong indignation. Their help is met with hostility. Increased excitability impairs the body's recovery process.

Pathogenesis of the disease

For the brain to function properly, a constant supply of oxygen is required. For comparison: the mass of the organ is 2% of the total weight of the body. For the functioning of the organ, more than 20% of oxygen and 17% of glucose from the total intake are required. The brain is not designed to reserve oxygen. Therefore, even minor ischemia lasting more than 5 minutes provokes irreversible damage to neurons. Restoring such structures is impossible.

In the acute period of the disease, large areas of damage appear. In this case, extensive swelling occurs, which aggravates the course of the disease, prolonging the recovery process. After a few weeks, the process subsides. The damage area is reduced. After a stroke, there is significant loss and impairment of many body functions.

This is due to damage to brain cells - neurons. They lose conductivity, the ability to function properly. The person stops coordinating his movements, thoughts, and begins to speak poorly. Serious disruptions make it difficult for the body to recover after an attack. The death of neurons is triggered by a lack of blood and oxygen. Scientists have proven that the basis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke is damage to blood vessels and disruption of blood flow in them.

Apoplexy significantly impairs a person's cognitive functions. Initially, memory is affected, resulting in complete or partial loss. The patient cannot remember his name and loved ones. Memory is similar to fragments of a vessel; the patient is unable to assemble them into a single picture.

Stroke causes significant functional impairment and structural changes in the brain. Therefore, the disease is accompanied by a decrease or complete absence of vision. A sharp, sudden deterioration in vision is a harbinger of apoplexy. This symptom occurs if blood flow is interrupted for at least a minute. Therefore, vision problems and pain in the head are the earliest manifestations of an attack.

Disease clinic

Moderate pathology with concomitant embolism or thrombosis causes complete loss of vision. Recurrent mild ischemia causes short-term problems. Therefore, restoration of vision depends on the severity and extent of the lesion.

The most common consequences of a stroke include paralysis and paresis. They can occur in any part of the body. It all depends on the location of the damage zone. If the left lobe is affected, paralysis of the entire right side of the body or part of it is noted. Someone becomes deaf, goes blind, stops moving and speaking. Some patients retain communicative functions, but do not move. The rest have all the negative consequences of the disease at the same time.

According to statistics, more than half of people with a stroke do not survive it. Patients who undergo it remain disabled. A fatal condition is hemorrhage in the right hemisphere. Damage to the left lobe is considered more favorable and has an easy, quick recovery.

Areas affected by cerebral stroke

Any part of the brain can be affected. And this aspect is clarified first of all, because Treatment, prognosis and consequences depend on the location.

Most often, destruction occurs in the left or right hemisphere, each of which is responsible for specific functions of the body. Violation of these functions is the first symptom of pathology. It should be taken into account that right-handed people suffer more severely from damage to the left side of the brain, and left-handed people - to the right.

In addition, the following may be damaged:
• Brain stem stroke is the most severe type of stroke and is fatal in 95% of cases. This is due to the fact that the main life support centers are located in the trunk.
• Cerebellum - damage to this area is also very dangerous, but is extremely rare. It is difficult to diagnose and often ends in the death of the patient.

Consequences of senile illness

Old age complicates the course and consequences of stroke, aggravated by severe cerebrovascular pathology and progression of encephalopathy. Therefore, after a stroke, the brain is not able to function fully: memory is impaired and intelligence declines.

The ischemic form of the disease leads to cognitive impairment. Epilepsy often develops after a stroke. Primary signs of an attack are observed within a week after the stroke. The difference in neurological manifestation is the absence of a visible catalyst factor. Epilepsy occurs unexpectedly.

During the rehabilitation period, epilepsy occurs due to cortical atrophy or a cyst, which has an irritating effect on the damaged tissues and the patient’s health. Late epilepsy after an attack can occur several months later (against the background of the appearance of a tissue scar).

This significantly complicates the rehabilitation of elderly patients. Major stroke and its consequences in old age are associated with neurological deficits and movement disorders. In this case, organs may fail.

Occasionally, a form of “thalamic” syndrome develops and visual impairment develops. The condition is dangerous, as there is a risk of urinary failure, cerebral edema with the development of dislocation-trunk syndrome or hydrocephalus. Dropsy occurs.

A stroke has characteristic signs by which the zone and extent of damage can be determined: lacunar, brainstem or spinal process. Problems with motor skills and spatial coordination indicate damage to the cerebellum. But often the spinal variant of the disease has a similar clinical picture.

Usually the side opposite the cerebral zone of the disorder is affected: the limbs and facial muscles fail, and dysarthria appears. In a spinal stroke, parts of the spinal cord are damaged. In this case, the patient is completely paralyzed. Peripheral neuropathy often occurs: there is no temperature sensitivity, taste is distorted.

Paresthesia often appears - an attack of tingling or numbness of the limbs. Problems with urodynamics are a clear manifestation of the consequences of lacunar infarction. The patient does not regulate renal and intestinal rhythm: does not control urination and defecation.

Aphasia is the loss of the ability to speak and adequately perceive speech. The intensity of the symptom directly depends on the severity of the condition. Deaths are the saddest consequences of cerebral hemorrhage. They occur in severe forms or in the absence of timely medical care.

https://youtu.be/k-k8WJO84VE

Doctors' recommendations

Stroke is a disease that requires complex treatment. But this is only the first stage of therapy. At the second stage, it is important to carry out correct and adequate rehabilitation. This is a rather complex program involving various specialists. The participation of the patient himself in the process is mandatory.

It is important to convince the patient of the effectiveness of therapy and a speedy recovery from the disease. Physiotherapy methods improve the flow of medications into the brain, and manual therapy restores muscle sensitivity and performance.

Official therapy advises, against the background of drug treatment, to resort to the services of a competent psychologist. Many patients, hoping to heal quickly and easily, turn to unconventional treatment methods. Stroke is a serious disease that cannot be treated on your own. Otherwise, you can complicate its course (kidney failure) or provoke death.

Prevention of ischemic stroke

It is much easier to prevent the development of a disease than to cure it later. Therefore, the issue of prevention is very acute.

• Control blood pressure, keeping it below 140/90 mmHg.
• Blood sugar control – no higher than 5.5 mmol/l.
• Control of blood cholesterol levels – no higher than 5.2 mml/l.
• Monitoring the blood coagulation system - take a coagulogram once a year.
• Weight control.
• Quitting smoking.
• Active lifestyle, moderate physical activity.

Risk factors for ischemic stroke

• Hypertension and its improper treatment. Blood pressure level should be below 140/90 mmHg! Taking medications must be constant, otherwise blood pressure surges occur, which creates a risk of stroke.
• Diabetes
• Older age (see how to use a simple test to determine a person's risk of stroke and dementia)
• Taking oral contraceptives. Especially in combination with age over 35 years, smoking or hypertension
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Hypercholesterolemia. The permissible cholesterol level is not higher than 5.2 mmol/l (see more details on cholesterol levels in women and men)
• Arrhythmias

How long do people live after a stroke?

No doctor can give an exact answer to the question of how many years people live after a stroke. Life expectancy after a stroke and its quality depend on the following factors:

• general health;
• course of the disease (severe complications worsen the prognosis for life);
• the severity of the patient’s condition (the larger the lesion, the shorter the life expectancy);
• the presence of paralysis (in the absence of paralysis, the patient will live longer).

A person who suffers a stroke can live more than 10 years. However, it is worth considering that every 3-4 patients die within 1 month after the attack. By the end of the first year, the fatality rate increases to 40% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas. The greatest danger is from attacks caused by bleeding. If for the ischemic form of the disease the survival rate is 63%, then for the hemorrhagic form it is 18%.

If the disease develops for the first time, the patient has every chance of a long life. However, with a repeated stroke, they do not live long - about 2-3 years. In 5-15% of patients, repeated attacks occur within 1 year, in 25-40% - within 5 years. The prerequisite for their development is the individual characteristics of the body and concomitant pathologies (diseases of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis, tendency to thrombus formation).