Brain Stem Stroke: Risk Factors, and Treatment – Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. The way the stroke affects the brain depends on which part of the brain is experiencing damage, and to what extent the stroke affects the brain.
The brain stem is the structure of the brain that sits just above the spinal cord, the brain stem controlling your breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. In addition, the brainstem also controls your speech, swallowing, hearing, and eye movements.
Impulses sent by part of the brain run through the brainstem to various parts of the body. We depend on the functioning of the brainstem to survive. The Brain Stem Stroke threatens the vital function of the body, making it a life-threatening condition.
Brain stem strokes are the most dangerous type of stroke. The reason is that the stem of the brain is the controlling of almost all important functions in the body.
The brain stem is also the center of brain consciousness. In other words, decreasing the function of the brainstem indicates a decline in consciousness.
Having a brain stem stroke almost certainly leads to death. If survived, the patient is most likely to have hemiplegia, paralyzed, or coma.
Not only that, the effect of brain stem stroke can also cause respiratory problems, unable to control body temperature, as well as the occurrence of impaired balance, speech disorder, and visual impairment.
Read also: 4 Pre stroke warning signs.
Stroke types
There are two main types of strokes, both of which can occur in the brain stem.
Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic Stroke occurs when formed blood clots in the arteries in the head or neck, thereby inhibiting blood flow to the brain area. Ischemic stroke is the most common type, 87 percent of patients with stroke experience this type of stroke and about 10 percent of all patients with ischemic stroke affect the brain stem.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic Stroke is a condition of bleeding in the brain and occurs when the blood vessels are weak to leak.
Such conditions trigger swelling and pressure. These pressures can damage tissues and cells in the brain. Hemorrhagic Stroke is not common compared to other types of stroke, but 40 percent of all deaths caused by Hemorrhagic stroke.
Read also: 10 Healthy food to prevent stroke.
Brain Stem Stroke Risk Factors
Because a stroke can also affect a young age, then if it has a risk factor, such as:
- There is a family history. Some factors can contribute to family strokes. Family members who have experienced stroke may have a genetic predisposition to stroke risk factors.
- Have experienced TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) or stroke.
- Suffer from diabetes.
- Cholesterol imbalance.
- Lack of physical activity and obesity. Obesity and activity related to hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Then you should be careful, before the stroke occurs.
Brain Stem Stroke Treatment
Strokes include one of the most common and life-threatening medical emergencies. Therefore, the stroke should be immediately detected and handled appropriately.
A person who has a stroke attack should immediately be given medical assistance in the hospital. It is necessary to prevent brain damage from continuing and increase the chances of recovering from the sufferer.
Golden period handling the initial stroke is three hours since the stroke starts attacking. Immediacy handling within the three to hour period can greatly affect the patient’s health quality in the future.
As to whether or not it is treated, it depends on how much damage occurs when the stroke strikes. Whether the tissues of the damaged brain stem are very large and broad, or precisely not too broad. For that, physical examinations and supporting examinations such as CT scans or MRI can help enforce the possibility of recovery in patients.
We recommend that you ask directly to the Doctor who is treating the patient, so the answer is more definite and accurate.
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