There are two types of strokes: ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes.
Ischemic strokes result from a blockage in key blood vessels that supply oxygenated and nutrient rich blood to the brain. These clots can form directly in the cerebral arteries and veins(thrombotic) or elsewhere, such as the leg, and travel to the brain(embolic).
Hemorrhagic strokes, on the other hand , are the result of severe bleeding due to a blood vessel rupture(aneurysm) or abnormally formed vessels(AVMs).
Ischemic strokes are far more common than hemorrhagic strokes, constituting nearly 90 percent of all strokes today. Regardless of the type of stroke, it is extremely important to begin treatment of stroke immediately. Thus, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a stroke. These can include facial paralysis, motor movement impairment, and cognitive decline(symptoms can differ in each patient). Beyond making important lifestyle changes for the treatment of stroke, medications are a viable option. For ischemic strokes, blood thinners are the most common while in hemorrhagic strokes; medications to relieve pressure on the brain are used. In some cases, stroke surgeries may be required. Stroke surgeries are used as a last resort due to the additional complications they pose on patients.
Treatment of ischemic stroke often involves medications. In ischemic stroke treatment, these medications are often blood thinners for stroke,as most cases are due to clotting and fatty deposits, which leads to the narrowing of the blood vessels. Blood thinners for stroke help prevent clotting and thus, reduce the risk for a stroke. The most common stroke medications in ischemic stroke treatment are antiplatelets and anticoagulants. An antiplatelet is an agent that works on the platelets in the blood stream and prevents them from sticking together as frequently, greatly reducing the body’s ability to form clots. An anticoagulant, such as warfarin, is an agent that works towards diminishing Vitamin K production. Vitamin K is critical in the coagulation cascade and without sufficient levels, clot formation is impeded. It is important to discuss these stroke medications with your physician as they do pose side effects. The best ischemic stroke treatment today is a tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA. Tissue plasminogen activator is crucial in the treatment of stroke as it directly dissolves the present clot and thus, improves blood flow to the brain. Tissue plasminogen activator must be administered as soon as possible following stroke development, as its efficacy greatly diminishes after three hours. Your physician is the best person to decide which stroke treatment is right for you.
While on stroke medications, it is also important to engage in natural stroke treatment. This involves eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. A key element in the natural stroke treatment process is consuming known brain foods. These include ginkgo biloba, curcumin, and ginger. These foods help to increase blood flow to the brain and thus, are vital in the treatment of stroke.
Ischemic stroke treatment can also involve surgery and endovascular procedures. Surgery is used as an acute stroke treatment if symptoms are severe and life threatening. In particular, a mechanical thromboectomy is one of the most popular procedures. In this procedure, surgeons directly remove the blood clot by using a stent retriever. It is important to discuss these surgical interventions with your physician as they are associated with additional risks and complications.
Hemorrhagic stroke treatment also involves the use of stroke medications. These medications differ from those used in ischemic stroke treatment as they are not used to prevent clotting or blockage. In hemorrhagic stroke treatment, they are used to relieve intracranial pressure that has been built up from excessive bleeding in the brain. One of the most popular medications used in the treatment of stroke is mannitol, an osmotic diuretic. This medication encourages fluid to disperse from the area of pressure build up which can relive symptoms of headache and migraine. Other hemorrhagic stroke treatment options include anticonvulsants to deal with seizures and antihypertensive agents to help decrease blood pressure. Your physician is the best person to decide which stroke medication is right for you.
The treatment of stroke can also involve the use of natural agents. In the case of hemorrhagic stroke treatment, the goal is to decrease blood pressure as it directly can cause weakened blood vessels and promote their rupturing. Physicians always recommend eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Here, it is important to reduce sodium and alcohol consumption as they can directly increase blood pressure. Also, natural herbs and spices can be used to treat and reduce blood pressure. These include cinnamon, basil, flaxseed and garlic. In the treatment of stroke, these are usually recommended in conjunction with stroke medications and other forms of hemorrhagic stroke treatment.
In some cases of intracranial bleeding, acute stroke treatment is needed immediately to relieve pressure build up. The surgery recommended is determined by what has caused the hemorrhagic stroke, an aneurysm or an arteriovenous malformation. In regards to an aneurysm, a clamp can be inserted on the ruptured blood vessel to cease the bleeding. This is a highly invasive procedure and requires the precise location of the aneurysm to be known. Other procedures such as a coil embolization can also be used. A coil embolization involves the insertion of a catheter into an artery in the pelvic region, which is then slowly passed to the location of the aneurysm. This coil can be inserted and thus, provide support to the weakened blood vessel. In the case of arteriovenous malformations, radiosurgery is becoming increasing popular. Radiosurgery involves a small but concentrated X-ray beam that is placed directly on the arteriovenous malformation in hopes of reducing blood flow through this region. In most cases, radiosurgery is successful and the arteriovenous malformation blood flow is stopped. It is important to discuss these surgical procedures for hemorrhagic stroke treatment with your physician, as they are associated with additional complications.