Brain stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, caused by a blood clot blocking an artery, and hemorrhagic, caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Symptoms include numbness, confusion, vision problems, and headaches. Treatment focuses on clot-busting drugs, surgery, and rehabilitation therapies to minimize brain damage and support recovery. Lifestyle changes like controlling blood pressure, losing weight, quitting smoking, and regular exercise can help prevent stroke.

1. Krishna Kumar
(B.Optom.)
Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah

2. What is Brain Stroke ?
 The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of
oxygen, caused by blockage of blood flow or rupture
of an artery to brain.
 Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood
supply
 A stroke is a medical emergency-
• Requires a medical diagnosis
• Lab tests or imaging always required
• Treatment can help , but this condition can’t be
cured
• Critical : needs emergency care
[Or]

3. Etiology-
Ischemia-
o Loss of blood supply in the brain cause brain stroke
Hemorrhage-
o Bleeding in the brain major cause of brain stroke.
High blood pressure (Hypertension) –
o If blood pressure is typically 140/90 or Higher.
o It is biggest cause of strokes.
Smoking –
o Smoking or chewing tobacco, it raises your odds of strokes
o Nicotine makes your blood pressure go up
o Cigarette smoke causes a fatty buildup in your main neck artery.
Ischemia
Hemorrhage

4. Heart disease –
o Defective heart valves as well as atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat,
which causes a quarter of all stroke.
Weight and exercise-
o Chance of a stroke may go up if you’re overweight.
o You can lower your odd by working out every day.
Medication-
o Some medicines like- blood thinning drugs prevent blood clot but high risk
of strokes.
o Low dose estrogen in birth control pills may also make your odds go up.
Diabetes
o Diabetes damages your blood vessel, which makes a stroke more likely.
o If you have a stroke when your blood sugar levels are high, the injury to
your brain is greater.

5. Incidence-
 More than 1 million cases of Brain stroke per year
 Brain Stroke also called- cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or cerebrovascular insult
(CVI) or Brain Attack or Transient ischemic attack .
Types of Brain Stroke-
Brain Stroke
Transient ischemic
attack
Ischemic
Stroke
Hemorrhagic Stroke

6.  Transient ischemic attack-
 Transient ischemic attack (TIA) a warning or ministroke.
 Anything that temporarily block blood flow to your brain
cause TIA.
 The blood clot and TIA symptoms last for a short period of
time.
 Ischemic Stroke-
 An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot keeps blood
from flowing to your brain.
 The blood clot is often due to atherosclerosis, which is a
buildup of fatty deposits on the inner lining og a blood vessel.
 A portion of these fatty deposits can break off and block
blood flow in your brain
TIA

7.  Hemorrhagic Stroke –
 A hemorrhagic stroke results when a blood vessels in
your brain ruptures or Breaks, spilling blood into the
surrounding tissues
 Hemorrhagic Stroke has three types-
 (1)Aneurysm- which causes a portion of the weakened
blood vessel to balloon outward and sometimes rupture.
 (2)Anteriovenous malformation –which involves
abnormally formed blood vessels ruptures, it can cause a
hemorrhagic stroke.
 (3) Very high blood pressure can cause weakening of the
small blood vessesl in the brain and result in bleeding
into the brain as well.

8.  Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or legs especially on one side
of the body
 Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
 Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eye
 Double vision
 Drooping of eyelid (Ptosis) and weakness of ocular muscles
 Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
 Sudden severe headache with no known cause
 Altered breathing and heart rate
 Weakness in tongue
Sign & Symptoms of brain Stroke-

9. Investigation-
 Stroke is diagnosed through several techniques-
 A neurological examination- NIHSS
 CT scans
 MRI scans
 Doppler ultrasound
 Arteriography
 Other tests- blood tests , ECG , carotid ultrasound etc.
CT scans

10. Complications-
 Cerebral swelling (edema)
 Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
 Intracerebral hemorrhage
 Seizures
 Blood clots
 Malnutrition
 Pneumonia
 Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Cerebral
edema

11. Prevention-
Protect yourself and avoid stroke-
 Lower blood pressure
 Lose weight
 Exercise more
 If you drink-do it in moderation
treat atrial fibillation
 Quit smoking

12. Treatment-
 Early treatment with medication like An IV injection of
recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) [clot buster] can
minimise brain damage.
 medication: Alteplase , blood thinners, statin , antihypertensive
drug and ACE inhibitor.
 Supportive care- cardiac monitoring
 Surgery-carotid endarterectomy.
 Therapies-speech therapy, rehabilitation, occupational therapy,
stroke rehabilitation and physical therapy
Cardiac Monitoring