Paralysis Disease
Strokes, in which symptoms of loss of brain function occur rapidly due to impaired brain blood flow, are in the third place among the diseases that cause death, after heart diseases and cancer.
There are two main reasons for stroke;
1 – Ischemic stroke: It is a slowdown or blockage of blood flow in the brain vessels and is encountered in 84% of cases. Clogging can occur in two different ways.
- Thrombotic Stroke: The most common type of stroke (69%) and the blockage develops slowly. It often occurs at night.
- Embolic Stroke: When the blood flow in the heart slows down and clots, the broken particle goes and blocks one of the brain vessels. Usually, paralysis occurs suddenly, without any symptoms.
2 – Hemorrhagic Stroke: It occurs as a result of high blood pressure or sudden rupture of important brain vessels “aneurysm”. Among strokes, it is the most dramatic. It occurs suddenly while the patient is standing and active. It is seen in 16%.
Risk Factors in Stroke: age, gender (more common in men), family history, previous stroke history, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, heart diseases, atrial fibrillation (heart rhythm). disorder), hyperlipidemia (high blood fat levels), alcohol and cigarette use, obesity, sedentary life, some hormones, nutritional habits, neck vein occlusions that have not yet caused symptoms (asymptomatic carotid stenosis) can be listed as the causes of the disease. Controlling risk factors significantly reduces the risk of stroke.
Disease Symptoms in Stroke
Stroke may have many symptoms, depending on the affected area of the brain. Generally, weakness in half of the body, loss of sensation or change in sensation, speech impairment, difficulty in understanding spoken language, walking and balance problems are observed. In addition, some patients may experience bladder and bowel problems, difficulty swallowing, pressure sores due to prolonged lying down, depression, shoulder pain and stiffness, and increased muscle contraction (spasticity).
Stroke Treatment
In suitable patients who do not have bleeding in the acute phase of stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (TIA) can be administered intravenously within 4 hours from the onset of symptoms, or the occlusion in the vessel can be intervened with endovascular methods. Blood thinners are one of the main treatment methods for strokes caused by vascular occlusion, excluding cerebral hemorrhage. In the acute phase of stroke, it is important to keep body temperature and fluid, oxygen level and blood pressure within physiological limits.
Since the majority of stroke patients benefit from rehabilitation, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation programs should be started as soon as possible. Thus, restricted joint range of motion can be increased. Secondary complications due to inactivity, such as pressure sores and deep vein thrombosis, can be prevented. In addition, since neurological recovery after stroke is most visible in the first 1 year, especially in the first 6 months, it is of great importance to start a rehabilitation program as early as possible after a stroke and to receive regular treatment during this process.