Stroke Flashcards
What is a Cerebral Vascular Attack (CVA)?
sudden loss of neurological function caused by an interruption of the blood flow to the brain
What are two types of strokes?
Ischemic
Hemorrhagic
What is an ischemic stroke?
results when a blog clot blocks or impairs blood flow, depriving the brain of essential O2 and nutrients
What is the most common type of stroke?
Ischemic
*80% of individuals with a stroke
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
occurs when blood vessels rupture, causing leakage of blood in or around the brain
What must occur for a stroke to be classified as a stroke?
Neurodeficit must persist for at least 24 hours
What determines the severity of neurologic deficits in patients?
the location and extent of brain injury, the amount of collateral blood flow and early acute care management
What is a thrombosis?
formation or presence of blood clot within the vascular system of brain
What is an embolus?
Composed of bits of matter formed elsewhere that break loose and trail to arteries in the brain
What is a hemorrhage?
bleeding in the brain
How can strokes be categorized?
TIA Minor stroke Major stroke Deteriorating stroke Young stroke
Stroke is the _____ leading cause of death in the us and is the _____ leading cause of disability in the US
4th, number one
T/F women have lower age-adjusted stroke incidence than men
TRUE
Who have twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared to whites?
African Americans
Higher incidence in who than whites?
Mexican americans, american indians, and Alaska natives
T/F incidence for stroke increases as you age, triple after age of 65?
FALSE, double
____% of strokes occur in individuals younger than 65 years old
28%
Stroke accounts for __ of every 18 deaths in the US
1
Which type of stroke accounts for the largest number of deaths each year?
hemorrhagic
What are some other important factors in mortality with a stroke?
Loss of consciousness at stroke onset Lesion Size Persistent severe hemiplegia Multiple neurologic deficits History of previous stroke
What is the major contributory factor in cerebrovascular disease?
Atherosclerosis
What is atherosclerosis?
Plaque formation with an accumulation of lipids, fibrin, complex carbs and calcium deposits on arterial walls that lead to progressive narrowing of blood vessels
What is the most common sites of atherosclerotic plaque?
origin of the common carotid artery or at its transition into the middle cerebral artery
- main bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery
- junction of the vertebral arteries with the basilar artery
Ischemic strokes are a result of?
thrombus
embolism
or conditions that produce low systemic perfusion pressures
What is a cerebral thrombosis?
clot that is formed or developed within the cerebral arteries or their branches
-resulting in tissue death
What is cerebral embolus (CE)?
Composed of bits of matter (blood, clot plaque) formed elsewhere and released into the blood stream, traveling to the cerebral arteries where they lodge in the vessels producing occlusion and infarction
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
abnormal bleeding into the extravascular areas of the brain
How does a hemorrhagic stroke happen?
rupture of a cerebral vessel or trauma
Wha does a hemorrhagic stroke cause?
increased intracranial pressures with injury to brain tissues and restriction of distal blood flow
What is intracerebral hemorrhage? (IH)
caused by rupture of a cerebral vessel with bleeding into the brain
*non-traumatic, usually occurs in small blood vessels weakened by atherosclerosis producing aneurysm
What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage? (SH)
occurs from bleeding into the subarachnoid space typically from a saccular or berry aneurysm affecting primarily large blood vessel
*hemorrhage is closely linked to chronic hypertension
What is arteriovenous malformation?(AVM)
congenital defect that can cause stroke.
-tangle of arteries and veins with agencies of an interposing capillary system
What are some major risk factors of a stroke? (4)
-Hypertension BP140/90
-Heart disease (HD)
-Disorders of heart rhythm
Diabetes mellitus (DM)
T/F elevated LDL and low levels of HDL cholesterol are a risk factor of strokes?
True
_______ disorders increase the risk of embolic stroke?
cardiac
_____ _______ is a powerful risk factor and has a five fold increased risk for stroke
Atrial fibrillation
T/F sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for stroke, doubling the risk of stroke or death
TRUE
What are some risk factors for women?
early menopause (before 42) have twice the risk of ischemic stroke
use of estrogen increase ischemic stroke
pregnancy, birth and the first 6 weeks postpartum
What are some modifiable risk factors?
Smoking
Physical inactivity
Obesity
Diet
What does FAST stand for?
Face dropping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911
When can a tPA be used?
effective within 3 hours of onset of symptoms
***CANT be given with a hemorrhagic stroke
