Health Information : Cerebro- Vascular Accidents (CVA)

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What are Cerebrovascular Accidents?

Cerebrovascular Accidents occur when blood flow to a part of the brain suddenly stops and it doesn’t receive oxygen. This lack of oxygen may damage or kill the brain cells leading to loss of certain body functions controlled by that affected part. A Cerebrovascular Accident is a very serious condition and can even lead to the death of a person. It is also known as CVA, brain attack, cerebral infarction or stroke.

What causes Cerebrovascular Accidents?

There are many factors responsible for Cerebrovascular Accidents, namely:

• A piece of fatty plaque built up in the blood vessel breaks away and runs through the blood stream going to brain. This causes blockage in the artery resulting in stroke known as embolic stroke.
•  A blood clot formed in the artery blocks blood flow to the brain and results in thrombotic stroke.
• A tear in the artery in the brain causes blood to leak resulting in cerebral hemorrhage. Blockage of certain small blood vessels present inside the brain.

What are the symptoms of Cerebrovascular Accidents?

The signs and symptoms of Cerebrovascular Accidents depends on the severity of damage caused to the brain and part of the brain that is affected:

• Numbness
• Weakness and tingling
• Paralysis on one side of the body
• Difficulty walking, swallowing and talking
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Severe headache
• Dizziness Confusion
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Loss of Consciousness

How can Cerebrovascular Accidents be treated?

The treatment for Cerebrovascular Accidents depend on the type of stroke you had. The goal of the treatment is to remove the blockage or control the bleeding.

• For Ischemic stroke: The doctor may give you clot-dissolving drug or a blood thinner. In emergency, medicine may be injected into your brain or surgery may be done to remove blockage.
• For Hemorrhagic stroke: The doctor may give you medicine to lower the pressure in brain caused by bleeding. Surgery may be required if bleeding is severe.