What is a stroke?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on January 04, 2025
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Stroke primarily refers to cerebrovascular disease. Acute onset of stroke usually presents with focal neurological deficits, mainly divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Ischemic stroke, primarily referring to cerebral infarction, occurs due to an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, causing vessel occlusion and resulting in various clinical syndromes. Clinically, it presents rapidly with symptoms such as limb paralysis, slurred speech, and facial drooping. The pathogenesis of ischemic stroke is caused by central arteriosclerosis of large vessels. Additionally, stroke also includes cerebral embolism, mainly referring to atrial fibrillation-induced emboli from wall-attached thrombi, and other foreign bodies causing embolic blockage, leading to necrosis of brain tissue. Stroke also encompasses hemorrhagic stroke, with a typical condition being cerebral hemorrhage, which is due to long-term hypertension causing hyaline degeneration of the small arterial walls, eventually leading to necrosis and rupture with bleeding, resulting in neurological deficits.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What does stroke include?

Stroke, translated from the English word "stroke," refers to rapidly occurring pathological changes. Stroke mainly includes two types of diseases: ischemic cerebrovascular disease and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, with ischemic cerebrovascular disease being the most common. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease includes large artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, small artery occlusive cerebral infarction, as well as cardiogenic cerebral embolism and other causes of cerebral infarction. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease mainly includes cerebral hemorrhage caused by hypertension, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebral hemorrhage caused by aneurysms or vascular malformations. The onset of a stroke is very aggressive and can severely threaten the patient's health. Once a stroke is suspected, it is critical to rush to the hospital for appropriate diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and provide the most suitable treatment plan.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is the best medicine to take for a stroke?

Stroke mainly includes two major categories. The first category mainly includes ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, with cerebral thrombosis being a representative condition. In cases of stroke caused by cerebral thrombosis, it is recommended to mainly use three types of medications. The first type of medication is antiplatelet drugs, which can inhibit the aggregation of platelets and prevent the reformation of thrombosis. The second type of medication mainly includes statins, which can regulate blood lipids and stabilize atherosclerotic plaques, and also prevent the recurrence of cerebral thrombosis. The third type of medication mainly includes traditional Chinese medicine that promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, which can improve circulation, and many traditional Chinese medicines are also recommended for use. The second type of stroke is hemorrhagic stroke, mainly caused by hypertension. For hemorrhagic stroke caused by hypertension, it is primarily managed by using antihypertensive drugs to stabilize blood pressure and taking some laxatives.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Stroke and Its Treatment

Stroke primarily refers to cerebrovascular disease, characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms that develop within minutes. This rapid development of symptoms is why it is called a stroke. Stroke commonly affects middle-aged and elderly people who often have certain risk factors. For example, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, drinking, obesity, and heart diseases like atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke. For the treatment of stroke, it is crucial to reach the hospital as soon as possible, as earlier treatment leads to better outcomes. Generally, if it is suitable, the patient may receive intravenous thrombolysis. Additionally, treatment may involve anti-atherosclerosis measures, nutritional support for nerves, and rehabilitation training, which is also very important.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What medicine is used for stroke?

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 Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Symptoms of stroke vary greatly, and it is crucial to judge based on the circumstances. The symptoms are mainly divided into two major categories: hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke. The most common symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke are severe headaches, projectile vomiting, and the gradual onset of consciousness disorders. Some people might also experience limb numbness, weakness, speech impediments, and other conditions. The most common symptoms of ischemic stroke include dizziness, limb numbness, and speech impediments; sometimes, these symptoms alternate, so it is essential to pay attention to clinical observations and focus on differential diagnosis. There are also other types of symptoms, such as cognitive decline, urinary and fecal incontinence, unstable gait, swallowing difficulties, and coughing while swallowing. Therefore, it is imperative to visit a hospital in a timely manner for testing to clearly understand the specific changes in the patient's condition at that time, thus better facilitating the patient’s recovery.