Brain Aneurysm, Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes

Brain Aneurysm

It is caused by weakening of arterial wall due to extreme enlargement of the artery. The condition can remain silent or even rupture which leads to severe problems or death.  It can occur in arteries that transmit blood to the brain and the aorta or large artery from left ventricle and passes through one’s chest and abdominal cavities (Salvo, 2009).  The rapture can also happen in peripheral arteries.  The enlargement of the artery allows the blood to extremely and abnormally extend artery wall. Rupturing of cerebral aneurysms is majorly the cause (Salvo, 2009).

                        

While this condition does not itself cause symptoms, some individuals may report lower back pain or abdominal pain, and others abdominal pulsating sensation. Others include chest pain, difficulty swallowing or wheezing, instant extreme headache, low blood pressure, light headedness and rapid heart-rate.  Brain aneurysm may require active treatment or regular monitoring through preventive measures or medication. Where rupturing occurs, surgical treatment may be needed since lack of repair may lead to fatality (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010).

Ischemic stroke

This is caused by the narrowing or blockage of arteries in the brain leading to extreme reduction in blood flow.  One cause is thrombotic stroke which happens when a blood clot is formed inside one of the artiries transmitting blood to the brain. Such a clot may result from fatty deposits in the arteries which lead to low blood flow and various artery conditions. Embolic stroke is another cause which occurs due to blood clot or debris forming in areas such as the heart and is transferred through the blood stream and lodged in brain arteries that are narrow (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010).

                     

The symptoms if this stroke includes disorientation in speech, numbness or paralysis of legs, arms or the face more so in one side of the body, troubled vision, walking and headache. The length of these symptoms may determine the treatment decisions.  Treatment of severe ischemic stroke involves therapy aimed at preserving ischemic penumbra tissue through restoration of blood flow to the affected areas and though optimization of collateral flow. Nero-protective strategy is also used to limit the ischemia duration, protecting, and penumbral tissue and allow more time for revascularization procedures (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). 

 

Hemorrhagic stroke

This occurs after blood flow to the brain is cut off or reduced significantly after rupturing of a blood vessel so that there is accumulation of the blood around this rupture. The rupture of the blood vessel is caused by aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation. Aneurysm occurs after a blood vessel section is enlarged due to chronic blood pressure or due to a weak blood vessel that is normally congenital. Arteriovenous malformation happens when veins and arteries are linked abnormally without any capillaries between the two. They are congenital meaning they are present during birth but are not usually hereditary (Ulbricht & Natural Standard (Firm), 2009). 

                       

Symptoms differ from one person to another but appear almost always after the stroke occurs. They include loss of consciousness completely or partially, vomiting, severe or sudden headache, nausea lack of balance, disorientation in speech and seizures (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). Immediate treatment involves the control of bleeding in the brain and reduction of pressure due to bleeding. In this case drugs are used in emergency treatment. In case small rupture, bleeding and pressure, treatment involve supportive care through rest, IV fluids, physical, occupational or speech therapy. Serious cases may require surgery for repairing blood vessels (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010).

References

Salvo, S. G. (2009). Mosby's pathology for massage therapists. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby/Elsevier. 184-186

Brunner, L. S., & Smeltzer, S. C. O. C. (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 1902-1905

Ulbricht, C. E., & Natural Standard (Firm). (2009). Natural Standard medical conditions reference: An integrative approach. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby/Elsevier.