Right Cerebrovascular Accident, Left Hemiplegia, Left Neglect

Many years ago, the father of medicine, Hippocrates, described a stroke or Cerebrovascular Accident as unexpected onset of paralysis (N,2004). As of then medicine had little knowledge on the disease, but the world of CVA medicine is developing into better approaches such as therapies that are being improved every day (N,2004). Today, some people who have a stroke can surpass the attack or disease with no or any apparent disabilities if the disease is caught fast (N,2004).

Doctors can now offer stroke patients and families hope on getting better (N,2004). A stroke happens when the blood that’s transports to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel bursts, splashing blood into spaces around the brain cells (N,2004). A person with blood loss to the brain or bleeding in the brain are said to be having a brain attack (N,2004). Brain cells die when they don’t receive oxygen from the blood or when injured by bleeding into or surrounding the brain (N,2004). Ischemia is the loss of oxygen for brain cells when there is no blood flow (N,2004). Ischemia leads to the death of brain cells which are replaced by a cavity full of fluid in the damaged brain (N,2004).

When blood transport to the brain is stopped, some brain cells die on the spot, while others continue at risk of death. (N,2004). There are 4 types of strokes an ischemic stroke happens when an artery that transports blood to the brain is stopped, this sudden stop of blood flow causes an infarction (N,2004). This is the result 80 percent of all strokes (N,2004). When an artery in the brain bursts, blood spills out into the tissue around the brain and disrupts not only the blood supply but also the chemical balance neurons require to function, this is called a hemorrhagic stroke these strokes are responsible for 20 percent of all strokes (N,2004). A transient ischemic attack, also called a mini-stroke, starts like a stroke but then gets solved and leaves no noticeable symptoms or deficits. When a TIA happens is a warning that the person has a higher risk for a more serious stroke (N,2004). Approximately 50,000 Americans who have a TIA each year, half will have a stroke in the future (N,2004). A recurrent stroke is repeated about 25% of people who recover from their first stroke will have another stroke within 5 years (N,2004).

Patients who have had a stroke go through a challenging time and can have many obstacles to regain their pre-stroke life back (Starkstein, Sergio, Jorge, Robinson, 2010). Patient are presented with difficulties such as Anosognosia which is the lack of consciousness in sensory, perceptual, motor, affective, or cognitive function from a brain laceration (Starkstein, Sergio, Jorge, Robinson, 2010). With therapy these patients can achieve many goals according to the Occupational therapy practice framework: domain and process daily activities such as bathing, cooking and toileting will impact how the patient reintegrates him or herself into their pre-stroke self (OTPF ,2014) Recovering from a stroke is hard Each person has a different recovery process some need longer care because of problems with moving, thinking, and talking (Martin, 2017). Some often improve in the first weeks or months after a stroke (Martin, 2017).

Some people will keep improving months or years after the stroke happened (Martin, 2017). After a stroke, some patients may develop problems finding words to communicate with or to be able to speak more than one word or phrase at a time, or have trouble speaking at all this anomaly is called aphasia (Martin, 2017). A stroke can harm the muscles of the mouth that help speech (Martin, 2017). Resulting in problems with word and speech (Martin, 2017).

A speech and language therapist can work with the patient and their family members to ease the transition (Martin, 2017). Patient may develop depression after the stroke (Martin, 2017). Depression may start soon after a stroke, but symptoms do not show up for up to 2 years after the stroke (Martin, 2017). Some treatments for depression can be social participation and fun activities to help the patient get back to the real world without shame or doubt (Martin, 2017). Walking, running and doing normal daily things such as dressing, bathing and feeding can be challenging after a stroke (Martin, 2017).

With a CVA Muscles on one side of the body may be weaker or may not move at all ending in left or right hemiplegia (Martin, 2017). Occupational therapist, physical therapist and rehabilitation doctors can help the patient learn how to use those muscles to facilitate things like walking running grooming eating cleaning self-care among other things (Martin, 2017). The most important thing is to avoid these strokes with simple things such as treatment of the body, mind and lifestyle changes to prevent another stroke or any stroke at all (Martin, 2017). This includes eating healthy, exercising, controlling illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and if needed taking medicine to help prevent a stroke (Martin, 2017).