Managing Stroke

What is Stroke?

Stroke, also known as cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is an injury of the brain caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. There are 2 types of stroke: ischaemic and haemorrahagic stroke.

Ischaemic is the most common type of stroke. It happens when:

• the artery is blocked by a clot of blood, fat or air bubble,
• a blood clot forms in an artery in the brain already narrowed by cholesterol deposits,
• or when there is a compressed artery in the brain caused by tightening of artery wall or tumour

These result in blood vessels becoming too narrow for sufficient blood to flow through.

Another type of stroke is haemorrhagic stroke. It is due to a burst blood vessel causing a leak into the brain. This bleeding could be because of high blood pressure, head injury or weak artery wall from birth.

The symptoms of stroke depend on the part of brain affected. Most stroke patients experience weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and may have difficulty with speech or thinking.

Path to recovery

Developing a stroke is very frightening for the patient, but early discovery and treatment increase the chances of recovery. The rate and extent of recovery depend on the severity of the stroke and often the determination of the patient.

Rehabilitation is an integral part of the stroke treatment. It aims to optimise recovery and function. Beginning during the stay in hospital, it will continue after discharge if necessary.

The type of program each patient undergoes will depend on symptoms suffered by the patient. Our hospital provides three specialised fields of therapy for comprehensive rehabilitation of the patient.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists evaluate the patients’ problems with balance, movement and co-ordination. They provide training and exercises to improve gait, strength and balance. Physiotherapy involves activities like walking, getting in and out of the chair or bed, and balancing. Hydrotherapy and neurorehabilitation may also be used.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists take care of the functional aspect of stroke patients. They train patients on activities of daily living that involve a lot of upper limb and hand functions such as transferring from bed to chair, dressing, taking a shower, eating, writing, and cooking.

They will suggest alternative ways to perform a task, modify patient’s environment, or recommend equipment and devices to assist the patient in these tasks so patients can gain maximum independence.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapists assess and treat stroke patients who have difficulty in communication (speech, language, voice) and swallowing. Individual or group therapy sessions for patients are available.