Stroke Prevention

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The first step in stroke prevention is knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke. A stroke can also be referred to as a “brain attack,” and occurs when blood supply is cut off from an area in the brain. There are two different types of stokes which are ischemic and hemorrhagic. According to Ridgway (2014), “The ischemic category is the largest proportion, more than 80% (p. 74).The most common symptoms of a stroke are: unilateral hemiparesis, hemiparethesia, amaurosis fugax, dysphasis, and aphasia. This patient has mentioned to have two of the most common symptoms which are hemiparesis and amaurosis fugax. Hemiparesis is weakness on one side of the body affecting an arm, leg, and one side of the face. Amaurosis fugax is defined as having temporary …show more content…
The first test that may be done is Computed Tomography (CT) of the head. CT scanning of the head is typically used to detect a blood clot, or bleeding within the brain after a patient exhibits stroke like symptoms. According to Yew & Cheng (2009), the primary purpose of neuroimaging in a patient with suspected ischemic stroke is to rule out the presence of other types of central nervous system lesions and to distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. However, a normal CT scan does not rule out the diagnosis of an ischemic stroke. The next exam that may be ordered is an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram is usually performed to identify a cardiac source of embolism that may be causing the TIA. A carotid Doppler ultrasound will be ordered as well to assess blood flow in the arteries supplying the …show more content…
Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery are some treatment options. Smoking is a significant risk factor in strokes. An aspirin or blood thinner may be prescribed to make the platelets less likely to stick together and clot. People who consume too much fat or salt are at a higher risk of having a stroke or TIA. Eating healthier can help reduce those risk. Diabetics are also at high risk because they are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis. However, there are some risk factors that can’t be changed like family history, age, gender, and ethnic backgrounds. According to Khare (2016), Patients who have more than 70% stenosis of the carotid artery, removal of atherosclerotic plaque is usually done by carotid endarterectomy surgery. (p.