Macias, Ma. Claudia Ysabel L.

Rosello, Isabella Victoria S.

STROKE
Definition of Terms
Stroke
- A sudden-onset cerebrovascular
disorder that may cause brain
damage
Infarct
- Area of dead or dying tissue
produced by a stroke
Penumbra
- Dysfunctional area surrounding
an infarct which may recover or
die
Types
A. Cerebral Hemorrhage
Occurs when a cerebral blood
vessel ruptures and blood
seeps into the surrounding
neural tissue and damages it
B. Cerebral Ischemia
Disruption of the blood supply
to an area of the brain
Symptoms
-

Paralysis or numbness of face, arm

or leg
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty understanding speech or
confusion
Vision changes
Sudden and severe headache
Problems with walking or loss of
balance

Causes
A. Cerebral Hemorrhage
Intracerebral Hemorrhage (In
the brain)
- POSSIBLE CAUSES:

Long-term high blood

pressure
o Arteriovenous
malformation
Congenital
condition wherein
a tangle of blood
vessels in the
brain directly
diverts blood
from arteries to
veins
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
(Area around the brain)
- POSSIBLE CAUSES:
o High blood pressure
o Blood thinners
o Aneurysm (ruptured)
Pathological
balloon-like
dilation that
forms in the wall
of an artery at a
point where the
elasticity of the
artery wall is
defective
May be
congenital or
result from
exposure to
vascular poisons
or infection
o

B. Cerebral Ischemia
Embolism
- Embolus is carried by blood
from a larger vessel to a
smaller one where it
becomes lodged
- POSSIBLE CAUSES:
o Heart attack
o Conditions which change
blood flow (i.e.
abnormal heart rhythms
& heart valve problems)
Arteriosclerosis
- Walls of blood vessels
thicken and channels
narrow

May lead to complete

blockage of the blood
vessels
- POSSIBLE CAUSES:
o Long-term blood
pressure
o Diabetes
Thrombosis
- Thrombus is formed and
blocks blood flow at site of
formation
- POSSIBLE CAUSES:
o Hypercoagulability
o Endothelial cell injury

Differential Diagnosis
1. Hypoglycemia
- Low glucose levels in the
blood lead to impaired brain
function
- Symptoms may include
weakness, confusion, vision
changes and loss of
consciousness
2. Lesions
- Any type or abnormal tissue
in the brain
- Symptoms include
headaches, weakness,
vision changes, and balance
problems
3. Seizures and Postictal States
- Seizure often occurs in
conjunction with a seizure
disorder such as epilepsy
- Postictal state altered
state of consciousness after
a seizure which may include
symptoms such as

confusion, headache and

nausea
4. Migraine Mimicking Stroke
- Severe headache wherein
sufferers may experience
symptoms such as
numbness, vision changes
and speech difficulties
- Symptoms occur more
gradually and vision
changes are positive
5. Functional Hemiparesis
- Weakness of entire left or
right side of body
- In rare cases, stroke-like
symptoms have a functional
cause for hemiparesis (most
commonly Conversion
Disorder)
6. Encephalopathy
- Disease which affects the
function and structure of the
brain
- May produce various
symptoms depending on the
type (may include altered
states of consciousness
accompanied by physical
manifestations)
SOURCES:
http://www.strokeassociation.org
http://www.webmd.com
http://www.emedicine.medscape.c
om
http://www.emedicinehealth.com
http://www.ferne.org/lectures