Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the medical term for a stroke. A stroke is when blood flow to a part of your brain is stopped either by
a blockage
or the rupture of a blood vessel. There are important signs of a stroke that you should be aware of and watch out for.
What are the 2 types of CVA?
- Ischemic stroke.
- Hemorrhagic stroke.
- Transient ischemic attack (a warning or “mini-stroke”).
What is a CVA medical?
In medicine,
a loss of blood flow to part of the brain
, which damages brain tissue. CVAs are caused by blood clots and broken blood vessels in the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, numbness, weakness on one side of the body, and problems with talking, writing, or understanding language.
What does CVA unspecified mean?
Cerebrovascular accident
: The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A CVA is also referred to as a stroke.
What is the most common CVA?
There are two types – ischemic and hemorrhagic.
Ischemic stroke
is the most common type. It is usually caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain.
Can CVA be cured?
Can stroke be cured? The short answer is
yes, stroke can be cured
— but it occurs in two stages. First, doctors administer specific treatment to restore normal blood flow in the brain. Then, the patient participates in rehabilitation to cure the secondary effects.
What are the three most common causes of a CVA?
- high blood pressure,
- high cholesterol,
- smoking,
- diabetes, and.
- increasing age.
Which side of brain is worse for stroke?
The terms
Left Brain
Stroke and Right Brain Stroke refer to the side of the brain where the obstruction causing the stroke occurs. There is not a worse or better side to have a stroke on as both sides control many important functions, but a more severe stroke will result in amplified effects.
Can brain repair itself after stroke?
Fortunately, damaged brain cells are not beyond repair.
They can regenerate
— this process of creating new cells is called neurogenesis. The most rapid recovery usually occurs during the first three to four months after a stroke. However, recovery can continue well into the first and second year.
What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke?
- Sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
- Sudden speech difficulty or confusion.
- Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden onset of dizziness, trouble walking or loss of balance.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
How is CVA diagnosed?
Strokes are usually
diagnosed by doing physical tests and studying images of the brain produced during a scan
. When you first arrive at hospital with a suspected stroke, the doctor will want to find out as much as they can about your symptoms.
What causes a CVA?
There are two main causes of stroke:
a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke)
. Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn’t cause lasting symptoms.
What is the best treatment for stroke?
Emergency IV medication.
An IV injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) — also called alteplase (Activase)
— is the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke. An injection of tPA is usually given through a vein in the arm with the first three hours.
What’s the worst stroke to have?
Hemorrhagic strokes
are extremely dangerous because the blood in the brain can sometimes lead to further complications such as hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, and blood vessel spasms. If not treated aggressively, these conditions can lead to severe brain damage and even death.
What is the leading cause of stroke?
High blood pressure
is the leading cause of stroke and is the main cause for increased risk of stroke among people with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about ways to keep diabetes under control.
What is a silent stroke?
A silent stroke refers to
a stroke that doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms
. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.
