What medicine is used for stroke?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on December 25, 2024
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Stroke primarily refers to cerebrovascular disease, which is divided into two main categories. The first category is hemorrhagic stroke, including cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and other diseases. The second category is ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, and other diseases. Thus, although both categories are classified as stroke, the medications used are different. For cerebral hemorrhage, the patient needs to rest in bed and must strictly control blood pressure, primarily using medications that strictly control blood pressure. There are no special oral medications, but intravenous medications can be given to protect brain nerves. If intracranial pressure is high, some dehydrating and intracranial pressure-reducing medications can be administered. For ischemic stroke, such as cerebral thrombosis, it is crucial to get to the hospital quickly. If it is within the thrombolytic time window, intravenous thrombolytic drugs can be administered for treatment, from which many patients may benefit. Additionally, it is necessary to take long-term medications that prevent platelet aggregation and regulate blood lipids, as well as stabilize arterial atherosclerotic plaques.

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Written by Sheng Wang
Neurology
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Causes of Dysphagia after Stroke

The causes of dysphagia resulting from a stroke are largely related to the location of the stroke. Dysphagia mainly involves the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, which are distributed in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem. Therefore, if you have a brainstem stroke, specifically at the medulla oblongata, there is a significant chance of experiencing coughing due to aspiration and dysphagia. If the stroke occurs in a different area, these symptoms are unlikely to appear. A stroke in the cerebral hemisphere, since it has bilateral nerve supply, does not lead to noticeable coughing if only one side is affected. However, if one side is affected this year and the other side next year, similar symptoms of aspiration cough and dysphagia will occur. Therefore, neurologically, the location and specific site of the stroke are crucial, as each location presents different symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What does a stroke cause?

Stroke primarily causes neurological deficits such as limb paralysis in patients. This paralysis is typically hemiplegic, where one side of the body lacks strength, the affected limbs cannot walk, and the upper limbs cannot be lifted. Stroke can also cause numbness in the limbs. Patients may experience reduced pain and temperature sensation on one side of the body, unable to feel pain or temperature. Additionally, stroke can lead to headaches and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, commonly seen in hemorrhagic strokes, such as cerebral hemorrhage. Furthermore, strokes in specific brain areas like the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and hippocampus can cause cognitive impairments. Patients become slow to react, have significantly reduced learning and memory capabilities, and their ability to perform daily activities and work is noticeably affected. Strokes can also cause unclear speech, where patients have difficulties in expressing themselves verbally and may even be unable to understand conversations.

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Written by Tang Ying
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Stroke Rehabilitation Treatment Plan

In the rehabilitation treatment of stroke patients, we first need to conduct a comprehensive rehabilitation assessment, evaluating the patient's current primary clinical symptoms, nutritional status, and rehabilitation functional impairments. Based on the results of the assessment, we determine the patient's main functional impairments, targeting a series of functional impairments such as mobility, hand function, as well as speech and swallowing disorders. We adopt a series of therapeutic interventions including exercise therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, swallowing therapy, speech therapy, psychological therapy, rehabilitation engineering, and rehabilitation nursing. Generally speaking, through evaluation, we develop a personalized rehabilitation treatment plan for the patient, comprehensively promoting the patient's overall recovery, improving the patient’s ability to live independently, and helping them return to their families, society, and work positions as soon as possible.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Post-stroke depression

Recent studies have confirmed that in addition to language dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and motor dysfunction, stroke patients also exhibit many signs of depression. According to guidelines published in China in 2016, about 33% of stroke patients experience post-stroke depression, which is a very high proportion. The main symptoms of post-stroke depression include a lack of interest in anything, unwillingness to communicate with others, being quiet and reticent, non-compliance with medication, and non-cooperation with rehabilitation training. Post-stroke depression significantly affects the recovery of patients and their future quality of life. Some patients may even turn to suicide due to depression. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to depression after a stroke, as the incidence rate of post-stroke depression is very high, reaching up to 33%. Clinicians must carefully identify it, and family members of patients must be attentive in their care.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke, also commonly referred to as cerebrovascular accident, is caused by the rupture or blockage of blood vessels within the skull, leading to necrosis of brain tissue and a series of symptoms. It is divided into ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke, commonly known as cerebral infarction or stroke, while hemorrhagic stroke refers to cerebral hemorrhage. Generally, ischemic strokes account for 80% of cases. Ischemic stroke is caused by blockage of blood vessels leading to necrosis of brain tissue, presenting with a series of symptoms such as hemiplegic numbness. Cerebral hemorrhage results from rupture of brain blood vessels causing damage to brain cells and symptoms of compression, and may also present with symptoms such as hemiplegic numbness. Both types can be differentiated by their symptoms, and can also be definitively diagnosed through a CT scan.