Cva Cerebrovascular Accident

A CVA (Cerebrovascular accident) also known as a stroke is caused by 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. The result can be serious disability or death. Each year alone about 150,000 people in America die from a stroke or are seriously disabled. Stroke is among the top five causes of death. The effect of the patient depends upon where the damage occurs and the severity of the stroke. It generally happens very suddenly and it can take up to five to seven days to completely effect the patient. Depending on how many of the brain cells die during the stroke, and where the cells are located in the brain will determine the severity of the outcome. During the stroke, the supply of the blood to the brain has been severed and after four minutes, the brain cells begin to die. Three out of ten victims of stroke within the first month will die and some will die at onset of the stroke and the remaining will recover to some extent. There are three types of strokes. One is the Ischemic Stroke, the most common of all strokes. Nearly nine out of 10 strokes fall into this category. The culprit is a blood clot that obstructs a blood vessel inside the brain. The clot may develop on the spot or travel through the blood from elsewhere in the body. Paralysis most often is a result of this type of stroke. (Waffield, Laura) Hemorrhagic strokes are less common but far more likely to be fatal. They occur when a weakened blood vessel in the brain bursts. The result is bleeding inside the brain that can be difficult to stop.(Waffield, Laura) A (TIA) or transient ischemic attack, often called a "mini-stroke," is more like a close call. Blood flow is temporarily impaired to part of the brain, causing symptoms similar to an actual stroke. When the blood flows again, the symptoms disappear. A TIA is a warning sign that a stroke may happen soon. It 's critical to see your

Bibliography: Waffield, Laura. Stroke: the complete guide to recovery and rehabilitation. London: Harper Collins Publishers,1996. Shirk, Evelyn. After The Stroke. New York: Prometheus Books,1991. Underwood, Helen. I Need Help: A Stroke Patients Plea. Nevada City, CA: Blue Dolphin Publishing, Inc. www.medicineonline.com