Notes

Hi everybody, I highly appreciate all of you for coming to todays Medical Talk! My name is Bolly, and I have the pleasure of teaching you all today! Today's subject is strokes. If you feel uncomfortable with today's topic or have any questions, please let me know now.

Alrighty, before we begin I'd like to clarify for any medical staff in attendance, please try to take notes as you're encouraged to make a text at the end of this Medical Talk. There will be a winner depending on who has the best notes and an award may be distributed.

Without further a doubt, let's begin!
So what is a stroke?
There are multiple types of stroke, including ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack or a haemorrhagic stroke.
A stroke happens when the supply of blood to the brain is reduced or blocked completely, which prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.
Urgent medical care should be provided for a stroke. In majority of cases, it can dangerous and life threatening, and often requires lab testing or imaging. The effects can last several years or be lifelong.
It can be caused by a range of things, including being overweight, diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure etc.
To diagnose a stroke, you can do a physical examination where you should observe the patient's symptoms, medical history, blood pressure and blood vessels at the back of the eyes.
You can also do a blood test to find out the time taken for clotting of blood or even an ultrasound to check the blood flow in the carotid arteries.

Moving onto the symptoms!
As different parts of the brain control different parts of the body, symptoms will depend on the part of brain affected and the extent of damage.
Usually, the common symptoms are paralysis or numbness or inability to move parts of the face, arm, or leg - particularly on one side of the body.
People may also experience confusion- including trouble with speaking, a headache with vomiting and trouble seeing in one or both eyes.


So, how is one expected to treat a stroke?
Well, treatment is based on the type of stroke. For ischaemic stroke, which is when blockage, such a clot cuts off the blood supply to the brain. Medication, surgery or both is recommended.
For a transient ischaemic attack, which is like a mini stroke where symptoms resolve within 24 hours, medication is suitable.
And for a haemorrhagic stroke, which is when there is bleeding in the brain, surgery is required immediately.
There are two types of medications prescribed for a stroke including Plasminogen activator (tPA) which acts as a clot dissolver, it dissolves clots and reopens arteries.
Aspirin or Clopidogrel are also recommended because they have the effect of normalising the flow of blood during or after a stroke.
There are many kinds of surgeries for a stroke including catheter mediated intra-arterial thrombolysis, which is done to attain reperfusion in case of ischaemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.
Or an angioplasty and stent placement which widens the blocked artery and a stent is placed!

If necessary, therapy such as rehabilitation can take place.
A stroke victim is advised to start as early as possible upon recovery. Their rehabilitation program will be decided as per the necessity and usually focuses on speech therapy, cognitive therapy, sensory therapy, motor skills and physical therapy.

To prevent a stroke, the following things should be considered and observed carefully.
A diet and healthy eating, decreasing the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet. Excercising and deciding to quit smoking and/or alcohol also helps greatly.

Without further a doubt, this concludes my medical talk! Thank you to everybody who attended and for all the medical staff who took notes please send me a text in DMs!