An apoplectic stroke is cause by severe damage to some part of the brain because of interruption of the blood supply to this part.
The damage of the brain for a continuous supply of fresh blood are so great that one fifth of the blood pumped by the heart is delivered to the brain. An interruption of blood supply to any part of the brain causes permanent damage to the cells within about five minutes.
About 80 percent of the deaths from stroke occur in people sixty-five years old above. Four out of five persons survive their first attack of stroke, but this people are usually handicapped to some degree, perhaps by paralysis of some muscle resulting from brain damage.
Although the onset of stroke is sudden, the underlying disease condition has usually been of long standing. Stroke may be caused when the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) at the site blocks a vessel—a complication of arteriosclerosis. It may be cause by the lodging of a floating fragment of blood clot (embolus) in one of the arteries of the brain. Or it may be cause by a rupture of the wall of an artery in the brain, with escape of blood into the brain tissue. The rupture may be brought about by high blood pressure forcing blood through a weekend vessel wall, as in arteriosclerosis or in aneurysm.
The symptoms of stroke may develop instantly or over a period of several minutes. The patient usually collapses and may lose consciousness. His face may be red and congested. There may be vomiting or convulsions. Paralysis may cripple the muscles of one side of the face, causing the mouth to be pulled to the strong side. There may be a muscle weakness of one entire side of the body. In some cases the pupil of one eye is larger than that of the other.
WHAT TO DO:
1. Call a physician or arrange for the patient to be taken to the hospital.
2. Keep the patient at complete bed rest, preferably with head and shoulders elevated slightly.
3. Apply cold compress (cloth wrung out of ice water) or an ice bag intermittently to the patient’s forehead and face.
4. Give no stimulants except on a physician’s order.
5. If the patient vomits, turn his head to one side to prevent choking.
6. If convulsions develop, place a tightly rolled cloth between his teeth to prevent injury to his tongue.
7. Do not attempt feeding by mouth while the patient is unconscious. Feeding can be accomplished by tube-feeding or intravenous injection.
8. It may be necessary to empty the patient’s bladder by catheter.
9. During convalescence it is necessary to arrange a progressive program in which the patient is guided in taking exercise, in self-care, and eventually in learning to walk.
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