Strokes

[Sqad]

Might I be allowed to clear up some aspects of a “stroke” as there appears to be some confusion.

A “stroke” is not a medical diagnosis as such, but a term which is convenient for both the medical profession and the public.

A “stroke” is when certain parts of the brain, ceases to work and eventually dies and this is due to a problem with the blood vessels supplying blood to that part of the brain. Those blood vessels may be blocked by a blood clot or may have burst causing bleeding.

Depending upon which blood vessels to which particular area is blocked, the symptoms may be, paralysis to the face or tongue, weakness of one arm or limb or both and slurring of speech. Depending upon the size and position of the affected artery will depend upon which of the above symptoms are apparent.

A stroke is a stroke and the terms minor or major are not particularly helpful.

Transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) are something completely different in that there is no damage to the brain because the attacks are “transient”, they don´t disrupt the blood supply long enough to damage the brain.

Jemisa has given an excellent resume of the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

[anneasquith]

your very clever,you missed out C V A.

[Sqad]

anneas......I don´t understand?

[marval]

Thank you for that Squad, good to know. My husband had a TIA a liitle while ago, not his first so am getting used to them.

[slinky.kate]

what about a cavernous angioma in the cerrebellum

[anneasquith]

what about cerebo vascular incident ?

[Sqad]

slinky.....LOL.....LOL......a doctor will probably never see one in his lifetime....I haven´t.

This was just a general post to clear up some misconceptions and wasn´t meant to be a differential diagnosis of a CVA.

[Sqad]

anneasquith...you have asked the same question twice.

Cerebro vascular accident (incident) is the same thing as a stroke.

[anneasquith]

are you a doctor sqad ?

[LoftyLottie]

That's what I thought Sqad. Methinks someone is trying to catch you out today!! Have a good weekend.

[Sqad]

Why....would you believe me if I said that I was?

[LoftyLottie]

Is Sqad a doctor. Tee Hee!! (Do you remember the old arguments we had Sqad!!)

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I just saw Annie clearing things up Sqad. You said you didn't understand

[Sqad]

Lofty....LOL....do you mean before we fell in love?

[LoftyLottie]

;o)

[anneasquith]

who is annie ? quad if you tell me your are a doctor id have no reason to think otherwise.

[Sqad]

anneasquith....I am medically qualified.

[slinky.kate]

sqad is it rare what i have then?

[masma]

Sqad...my sister had, what we were told was, a stroke. I found her on her bedroom floor unable to move or speak clearly. When she'd had all of her tests the doctor in charge of her case showed me,on a monitor, what they'd found. It was a large white area to the back and right of her brain. I thought I understood at the time that this was a large bleed and nothing could be done. My family have said to me that I should've insisted on better treatment as a stroke can be cured these days. She died a week to the day that I found her.

[anneasquith]

sqad,thats interesting, what is your medical qualification ?

[Sqad]

masma...that is a terrible story. I presume it was an MRI scan that showed the bleed.Difficult to manage, depending upon the site and extent of the bleed and also on the general medical condition of your sister. The condition that your sister had, was not the normal type of "Stroke" and with what you ave described, the prognosis was poor from the outset.
I am sorry.