Stroke (Cerebral Vascular Accident)
OCerebral Vascular Accident (CVA),popularly known as a stroke, is a sudden condition, which usually occurs in the form of loss of strength in a limb, loss of consciousness, or a sudden episode of mental confusion.
There are two types of stroke, the typeischemic, which is when blood flow to the brain is cut off due to a blocked artery, and one typehemorrhagic, when blood flow is altered by the presence of a cerebral bleeding.
Oischemic strokeit can be caused by several factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, heart disorders, among others. When some of these factors are combined, the chance of having a stroke greatly increases.
O hemorrhagic strokeit usually happens in association with uncontrolled arterial hypertension, aneurysms, or when there is a weakening of the vessels, associated with amyloid angiopathy, a condition present in older people.
After having a stroke, it is very important to investigate the true cause of the event so that a new stroke can be properly avoided. That's right, it's not because there was one that you can't have an event again! Hence the importance of having adequate follow-up with the neurologist.
After having had a stroke, the work ofrehabilitationwithphysiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, nutritionistare very important to minimize the consequences and make the patient resume his functions and daily activities as soon as possible.
The use ofbotulinum toxinby the neurologist has been growing, with the aim of reducing sequelae such as spasticity, with great results. Its use should be evaluated in order to improve the function of the limb and its usefulness.
How to avoid another stroke
That's the most important!
The callsecondary prevention consists of treating the causes of a stroke after having had a first stroke, in order to prevent it from happening again!
When the cause is identified, such as arrhythmias, heart disorders, obstructions in cervical arteries, among many others.
The work of secondary prevention andinvestigation of the cause of the strokeit should be carried out with a specialist doctor, preferably a neurologist.
In addition, thecontrol of risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia (changes in cholesterol and triglycerides), sedentary lifestyle and smoking, when present, is of fundamental importance.
This must be a joint effort, with the family doctor, the general practitioner, geriatrician and neurologist.