Prolonged Impact of Neurovascular Disease

Publication Date: 7 February, 2022

Source: Headline Daily

Neurovascular disease refers to all temporary and permanent dysfunctions in an area of the brain which is affected by bleeding or restricted blood flow. This can cause stroke, a leading cause of adult disabilities and life-threatening situations.

Stroke is the number two cause of death in the world according to the World Health Organization. The signs and symptoms vary by disorder. However, there are common signs that you need to pay attention to, such as trouble speaking, numbness on one side of the body, problems seeing in one or both eyes, sudden severe headache and problems with movement or walking. Hence, it is important to consult an expert even if the symptoms have gone away. Proper diagnosis and speedy treatment make a difference in the severity of long-term complications.

The treatment and management of those suffering from stroke is costly. The impact of stroke extends well beyond the immediate treatment required and the patient. Stroke instantly changes the life of the patient and people around, and poses a huge financial impact on healthcare system and the broader impact on the community due to short and long-term disability. Prevention is better than cure when dealing with stroke and significantly reduces the financial burden on the government and the families.There are two main causes of stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke); and leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). This article will focus on ischemic stroke.

To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors must quickly restore blood flow to the brain. This may be done through emergency intravenous medication, emergency endovascular procedures to deliver medications to the brain or removing blood clot with a stent retriever.

To minimize the risk of having another stroke, a balloon angioplasty to open up an artery that has been narrowed by plaque may be performed and depending on individual cases, doctors may consider the implantation of stents. This preferred minimally invasive procedure to expand the narrowed artery has been shown to significantly improve outcome and reduce long-term disability after ischemic stroke.