As we already know, our central nervous system is responsible for many functions in our body. The brain stem is one of the earliest parts of the central nervous system that develops during fatal stage. It is responsible for important functions in the body such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion.
Well, blockage of blood or bleeding in brain stem results in brain stem stroke. In this article we are going to see the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for this stroke in our life.
What Is Brain Stem Stroke?
The brain stem is located at the base of the brain and is responsible for receiving and responding information throughout the body.
If the supply of blood is blocked due to leaking blood vessel or blocked artery, it results in brain stem stroke.
According to world health organization, this is the second most disease that causes to death and third most things that lead to disability of a person.
Brain stem stroke can affects person’s fundamental bodily functions and lead to long term complications.
Types Of Strokes
Well, there are two types of strokes associated with this condition. The first type is called ischemic stroke which is caused by blood clot in the arteries.
When blood can’t get into a section of brain, the tissues of brain in that area dies off and results in forming stroke.
Apart from blood clots, an arterial dissection also results in ischemic stroke. Due to arterial dissection the blood will accumulate in arterial vessel walls that cause obstruction to the flow of blood to brain. This pressure will lead to burst or leak the wall.
The second type of stroke is caused by the weak blood vessel that bursts and puts pressure in the functioning of brain called as hemorrhagic stroke.
Symptoms Of Brain Stem Stroke
Generally, symptoms of stroke depend on the affected area of the brain. Some of the brainstem symptoms include as following.
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Breathing
- Heart rate
Brain stem cells receive different signals from the brain and send it to different parts of body. But brain stem strokes disrupts these signals and results in some physical symptoms such as
- Numbness
- Loss of balance
- Blurred or double vision
- Headache
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
Diagnosing Brain Stem Stroke
If a person experiences symptoms of stroke, then his/her doctor use image tests and CT scan to know whether it is a ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic.
Treatment
Brain stem stroke requires immediate treatment to reduce the risk of lasting complications. But, the treatment depends on the type and severity of the stroke.
Ischemic Stroke
The following methods can be used for treating the person with ischemic stroke.
- Anti platelets drugs such as aspirin
- Endovascular therapy, which is nothing but a surgery to remove blood clots in the brain.
- Clot busting drugs such as tissue plasminogen for dissolving blood clot in the brain and restore the blood in the affected area.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
- The following things can be used for treating hemorrhagic stroke.
- Drugs to prevent seizers and control blood pressure
- Coil embolization, this is a surgical process that helps to reduce bleeding and stop the blood vessel from breaking open again and again.
Risk Factors For Stroke
According to American stroke association, women are more prone to this condition when compared with men.
Here are some medical conditions that lead to experience this condition, such as:
- Obesity
- Cardio vascular diseases
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Life style risk factors
Lifestyle risk factors can be controlled by a person, if he doesn’t want to experience stroke, such as
- Smoking tobacco
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Poor diet
- Illegal drug use
- Sedentary life style
The best way to be healthy and prevent strokes is just by maintaining healthy lifestyle by eating healthy food in your regular diet. It’s better to quit smoking and try to intake less amount of alcohol and taking part in exercise for 20-30 minutes in a day.
