Introduction to Stroke

Question 1

Why study stroke?

Answer 1

It is the 3rd leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease

To increase our understanding of the pathophysiology

Understand the impact that stroke can have on

• Healthcare system
• Families
• Individual

To develop effective prevention and intervention

Because it is interesting

Question 2

Which areas of psychology can be related to stroke?

Answer 2

Neuroscience

Cognitive psychology

Sleep

Memory

Mood

Health psychology

Social psychology

• Relationship dynamics
• Personality

Clinical psychology
- Depression

Question 3

What is the frontal lobe associated with?

Answer 3

Motor cortex

Judgement

Inhibition

Personality

Emotions

Language production

Question 4

What is the parietal lobe associated with?

Answer 4

Sensory production

Orientation

Question 5

What is the temporal lobe associated with?

Answer 5

Auditory perception

Memory

Question 6

What is the brainstem associated with?

Answer 6

Regulation of autonomic function

Breathing

Heart function

Question 7

What is the cerebellum associated with?

Answer 7

Coordination of movement

Posture

Balance

Question 8

What is the occipital lobe associated with?

Answer 8

Vision

Question 9

The brain requires how much of the body’s oxygen and how much of the cardiac output?

Answer 9

20% oxygen

15% cardiac output

Question 10

What is a stroke?

Answer 10

An interruption to the blood supply in the brain

Causes significant cell death in the areas no longer receiving oxygen and nutrients

Question 11

Classification of stroke

Answer 11

Ischaemic

Haemorrhagic

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

Question 12

Ischaemic stroke

Answer 12

Most common

Blockage that stops the blood flow to the brain

Question 13

Causes of ischaemic stroke

Answer 13

Cerebral thrombosis

Cerebral embolism

Systemic hyper perfusion

Question 14

Cerebral thrombosis

Answer 14

Blood clot formed in one of the main arteries of the brain

Forms within the brain itself

Question 15

What is an infarction?

Answer 15

An area of dead cells

Question 16

Cerebral embolism

Answer 16

Blood clot forms in a different area of the body and travels up to the brain

Question 17

What is the donor site?

Answer 17

Where the embolus formed

Question 18

What is the recipient site?

Answer 18

Where the embolus gets stuck and causes a blockage

Question 19

Systemic hypoperfusion

Answer 19

General reduction in blood supply around the body

Due to less cardiac output

Can affect all areas of the brain

Question 20

Haemorrhagic stroke

Answer 20

Bleed into the brain

Question 21

Types of haemorrhagic stroke

Answer 21

Intracerebral haemorrhage

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

Epidural haemorrhage

Question 22

Intracerebral haemorrhage

Answer 22

Blood vessels deep within the brain erupt

Question 23

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

Answer 23

Blood vessels have erupted between the brain and the skull

Bleeding occurs in the subarachnoid space

Question 24

Epidural haemorrhage

Answer 24

Blood vessels have erupted between the brain and the skull

Bleeding occurs between the dura mater and the skull

Question 25

What can cause haemorrhagic stroke?

Answer 25

Aneurysms - bulges in blood vessels that form due to weakened vessel walls

High blood pressure can lead to these aneurysms bursting and causing a bleed

Question 26

Transient Ischaemic Attack

Answer 26

Temporary loss of blood supply to the brain which resolved itself

Question 27

How does a TIA resolve?

Answer 27

Blood clot dissolves itself and blood flow is restored

Question 28

Stroke in the left hemisphere of the cerebrum

Answer 28

Weakness/paralysis in the right side

Cognitive problems

Question 29

Stroke in the right hemisphere of the cerebrum

Answer 29

Weakness/paralysis in the left side

Visual/perception problems

Question 30

Stroke in the cerebellum

Answer 30

Balance and coordination problems

Question 31

Stroke in the brainstem

Answer 31

Breathing
Heart beat
Swallowing problems

Question 32

How would you know someone is having a stroke?

Answer 32

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially in just one side of the body

Confusion including trouble speaking

Trouble seeing

Dizziness

Headache

Question 33

What factors can determine the severity of a stroke?

Answer 33

The time before you get treatment

The artery which is affected

Other medications
- Blood thinners would cause more bleeding in a haemorrhagic stroke

Question 34

What area being affected causes numbness?

Answer 34

The primary somatosensory cortex

Question 35

What area being affected causes movement problems?

Answer 35

The motor cortex

Question 36

What artery is blocked if you have trouble speaking?

Answer 36

Middle cerebral artery

Supplies Broca’s area (production of speech)

AND

Wernicke’s area (speech which doesn’t make sense)

Question 37

Where would the stroke have occurred to cause balance problems?

Answer 37

In the cerebellum

Question 38

Why may you get a headache when having a stroke?

Answer 38

Blood accumulates and the brain presses against the skull, causing pain